Drug Medical Information

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES: EFFECTS OF GENITAL HERPES

There are two types of herpes simplex viruses: type 1 causes cold sores in the mouth, and type 2 causes genital herpes. However, there is growing evidence that they are more related than previously thought. Genital herpes now rivals gonorrhea as one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases in the United States.
Effects of Herpes Approximately 2 to 10 days after the virus enters the body, some symptoms such as sores and swollen glands (around the groin), flu-like symptoms (fever, muscle aches, and a sick feeling), and pain in the genital area during urination or intercourse may occur. Other symptoms may include fatigue, swelling of the legs, and watery eyes. The disease progresses through four stages:
1.   Prodrome stage. An itching or tingling sensation (prodrome) develops near the sitewhere the virus invaded the body, with the skin turning red and becoming sensitive; prodrome is also an early symptom of a recurrent infection or out break.
2. Blister stage. A sore or cluster of sores appears; fever, swollen glands, and other symptoms may occur; after 2 to 10 days, the sores break open (on future outbreaks, fever and swollen glands usually do not occur).
3. Healing stage. Sores shrink; scabs form; pain, swollen glands, and fever subside (scabs fall off by the end of the second week).
4. Inactive stage. The virus retreats to nearby nerve cells; stress and poor health may cause the virus to reemerge.
Since the virus remains dormant in the nerve cells, reoccurrences can be experienced. However, these reoccurrences are not as frequent as most people believe. Although some people may experience future outbreaks several times monthly, others may encounter them only rarely. Approximately one third of those with the disease never have a reoccurrence, and another one third have outbreaks only rarely. Furthermore, reoccurrences of herpes are usually much less painful and much shorter than the initial outbreak.
Herpes has potentially more harmful effects on women than on men. Women who have herpes genitalis are eight times more likely to develop cervical cancer than noninfected women. In addition, a herpes-infected pregnant woman has a one-in-four chance of transmitting the infection to her infant during delivery, and the risks to the infant include death. Consequently, the recommended course of action for pregnant women with herpes is to obtain delivery by cesarean section (incision through the abdomen and uterus to remove the fetus rather than delivery through the vaginal canal).
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