Topic: Sexual HealthGenital herpes
Genital herpes, usually the result of an infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2),
is the most common cause of genital ulceration. The first clinical episode is called primary
genital herpes; recurrent HSV infection occurs in up to 80% of patients. Because not every
individual who acquires the virus develops symptoms, it is difficult to estimate the
prevalence of HSV infection.
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Genital Herpes: Recognizing the Problem
There are 2 ways commonly used to classify genital herpes: One is to determine whether the episode
is primary or recurrent, and the other is to determine whether herpes infection is symptomatic or
asymptomatic.
Symptomatic genital herpes infection refers to the clinically apparent lesions of either first-episode
or recurrent-episode genital herpes. An asymptomatic genital herpes infection is identified by HSV shedding
or serologic evidence of antibody to HSV-2 (predominantly a genital strain) in a person with no previous
history and no signs or symptoms of infection. An asymptomatic infection may become symptomatic at any time.
Between the extremes of those who have no symptoms and those who have classic symptoms are the many who
have atypical genital herpes. In women, these atypical symptoms include vulvar erythema with tingling,
pain, and itching; fissures or excoriations; or extragenital lesions on the buttocks, groin, or thighs.
Atypical lesions are often misdiagnosed by both patient and inexperienced clinician and attributed to
trauma
Medication: There is no cure for genital herpes, and no drug has been proven to prevent the spread of herpes to others.
Use the next to suppress herpes outbreaks or to treat them when they occur.
- Acyclovir is an antiviral agent that is active against the herpes virus infections of the genitals, skin, brain, and mucous membranes. The drug is also used to treat other viral infections such as shingles and chickenpox.
- Valtrex is the once-a-day prescription medication proven to suppress future genital herpes outbreaks. Valtrex works by disrupting the process by which the herpes virus reproduces itself and spreads to other cells in the body.
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