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Frequent questions | |
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GENITAL HERPES | |
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 DENOMINATION DEFINITION YOU CAUSE PREVENTION SYMPTOMS ANALYSIS TREATMENT EXPECTATIONS COMPLICATIONS CONSULTS TO CONSULT |
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The genital herpes is the infection of sexual transmission caused by virus, which is characterized by repeated episodes that develop with an eruption of small blisters, generally painful, on the genitals. The genital herpes is caused by two viruses that belong to the group herpesvirus hominus, known, respectively, like simple herpes type 1 (HSV-1) and like simple herpes type 2 (HSV-2). The HSV-l is responsible, approximately, for 5 to 10 % of the genital herpes. Both viruses are transmitted by sexual contact. It is normal that there happens a crossing of infections of type 1 and 2 during the oral sexual contact - genital. The initial infection of oral herpes happens normally in the childhood and it is not classified like a sexually transmitted disease. 80 % of the adult population is a candidate to carry the HSV-1 and he can have acquired it of not sexual form. The entire incidence of genital herpes is estimated in 1 of every 1000 persons. The initial infection of HSV-1 or HSV-2 is characterized by signs and systemic symptoms (for the whole body) as well as also by signs and local symptoms. Between the systemic symptoms there are the fever, discomfort, widespread pain (myalgia) and decrease of the appetite. The located symptoms are described further on. When the virus is transmitted by the secretions of the oral or genital mucous membrane, the initial injury is located on the region on which the transmission takes place. The most habitual places are: glans and other parts of the penis, and the scrotum in men; vulva, vagina and cervix, in women. The mouth, year and internal face of the thighs can be also an infection place in both sexes. Before the appearance of the blisters, the infected individual experiences an increase of sensibility, intense heat or pain in the skin, in the place in which these will appear. The skin blushes and fills with multiple small, vesicles red and full of a fluid of yellowish clear color. The blisters break leaving painful ulcers that, possibly, form a crust and recover in a period from 7 until 14 days. The sprout can be accompanied by discomfort and engrosamiento by the nodules of the area inguinal. In the women a vaginal discharge and pain can appear on having urinated (disuria). The men can have disuria if the injury is close to the opening of the urethra (meato). Once a person becomes infected, the virus is established inside the nervous cells out of the scope of the antibodies. The body tries to fight it but this struggle has no end. The virus can, this way, remain latent (period of "latency") during a more or less extensive time, but suddenly the infection is reactivated and the individual has another attack of pain and blisters. The attacks appellants can be rare, happening only once a year, or so frequent that the symptoms seem continuous. These attacks appellants can be precipitated by many causes like the mechanical annoyance, the menstruation, the fatigue, the burns of the sun and others. The infections appellants in men are generally lighter and of duration shorter than in women. The investigation suggests that the virus can be transmitted to the couple even when the illness seems clinically absent, so that a sexual couple without apparent injuries can transmit the illness. An asymptomatic dissemination can contribute really more to the dissemination of the genital herpes that the same active illness. The virus of the herpes is of special importance in the women for several reasons. There is involved in the neck of the womb cancer, especially when it is present in combination with the human virus of the papilloma (HPV), the virus responsible for the genital warts (condiloma). For the pregnant women, the presence of HSV-1, or of HSV-2 on the genitals or in the birth channel, is a threat for the baby. The infection in the baby can drive to a meningitis herpética, to a viremia herpética, to a chronic infection in the skin or, even, to the death. The infection for herpes supposes a problem especially seriously in the persons inmunodeprimidas (sick with AIDS, persons receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or that high cortisone doses are taking). These persons can suffer infections in several organs, as for example:
The prevention is very difficult from the moment in which the virus can be contagious even from infected persons who do not present symptoms. Nevertheless, avoiding the direct contact with an open injury we reduce the infection risk. The persons with genital herpes must avoid the sexual contact when they have the active injuries. The persons with well-known genital herpes but without present clinical symptoms they must inform his couple that they have the illness. This will allow to both to use protective barriers (condoms) to prepare the contagion. The condom is the best protection opposite to the genital herpes when one is sexually an assets. The systematical and correct use of a condom helps to avoid the contagion. The condoms are controlled to make sure that this virus cannot spend turn of the material of which they are made. The pregnant women infected with the simple herpes must do to themselves weekly cultivation of the cervix and genital day pupils to prepare possible new sprouts. If the cultivation is positive, the active injuries are present and, for it, it is recommended to do a Cesarean section that avoids the infection of the newborn baby.
There are other illnesses that have symptoms and signs similar to the genital herpes, for what it is important to come to the doctor so that it realizes diagnosis tests and initiates the treatment as soon as possible. At present no treatment can treat the genital herpes, but there exist antiviral medicines that suppress the multiplication of the virus, accelerate the healing and diminish the discomfort. Between them we have the aciclovir and recently the valaciclovir whose efficacy and safety has been demonstrated in sharp genital herpes and like suppressive of relapses. Likewise, his utility has been demonstrated in the reduction of the risk of transmission of this virus. These medicines taken in capsules or pills are more effective than in creams. The oral aciclovir does not treat the infection, but it reduces the duration and severity of the symptoms in the primary infection and also it reduces the extension of secondary attacks. Also it reduces the contagion risk. It can be used in the first episode and repeatedly. For a maximum benefit during the sprouts, the therapy must begin as soon as the first symptoms appear (previous to the ulcer) or as soon as the blisters are evident. The local aciclovir is also a cash, but it must be applied more than 5 times a day. During the first 24 hours it is suitable to apply the ointment every hour, what will reduce very much the healing time. The warm baths can relieve the pain associated with the genital injuries. Also a very soft cleanliness is recommended with water and soap. If there appear the injuries of the secondary infection in the skin, there can be necessary a local antibiotic as Neomicina, Polimixina B and Bacitracina in ointment. Sometimes also oral antibiotics can be needed. If the recurrencias are not very frequent and the person is familiar with the symptoms and initial signs of the recurrencias (itch, pins and needles, backache and along the later part of the leg) the treatment can be used to stop or to suppress these episodes (episodic treatment). Nevertheless, if the recurrencias are frequent, serious or affect to the life of the person, it can be necessary to take the medication every day during a period of time to prepare the recurrencias, constituting a maintenance treatment. The resistance in the herpes is evident the aciclovir at once. If the symptoms do not improve quickly with aciclovir, is indicated a new evaluation of his doctor. Once infected, the virus remains in his body for the rest of the life. Any persons never have another episode again in his life and others have frequent sprouts during the year. The infections tend to appear after the sexual relation, solar exhibition, and after stress situations. In individuals with a normal immune system, the genital herpes remains slept how, but the threat is always there.
Call his doctor if it has some indicative symptom of genital herpes.
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