Sexually transmitted diseases: genital herpes
Written by:Diseases transmitted through sexual intercourse are many and with more or less serious consequences on the organism. Today Dr.. Sergio Delmonte, specialist in Dermatology and Venereology, talks about genital herpes, the most common cause of ulcers in the genital area
1) Dr.. Delmonte, what is genital herpes?
L 'Genital herpes is a disease caused by the herpes simplex virus, which is transmitted mainly through sexual intercourse, and less frequently during birth from mother to newborn.
After the first episode, the disease recurs in the future (relapses), even without a new sexual contact, especially during the first years of infection. Relapses can be triggered by fever, menstruation, illness, stress or fatigue.
Usually the typical genital herpes lesions appear within two weeks of contact with the virus, although sometimes (1 out of 4), the disease can remain latent / asymptomatic and occur even after a long time.
2) How it is transmitted genital herpes?
It transmits the virus is through direct contact with the lips (HSV type 1) or the ano-genital area (HSV type 2) of another person already infected by viruses. Infectivity is elevated in the presence of lesions, but the virus can also be transmitted from a healthy person who does not have lesions (asymptomatic shedding). Precisely for this reason, in most cases we are infected by people who do not know they are contagious at the time of the report.
The risk of be struck increases with age according to the number of partners had in life, but also have relations only with a stable suffering from herpes partners increases the likelihood of becoming infected with the passage of time.
In addition, the virus can also be transmitted through oral-genital intercourse with a person suffering from cold sores, especially if you already suffer from lip herpes.
3) How does it manifest genital herpes?
Anogenital area numerous vesicles appear, much like those that appear on the lips in the case of cold sores. The patient complains of burning, tingling and swelling. The herpes tends to return in the same place even during subsequent episodes.
Genital herpes does not make sterile, but can be dangerous for the future baby if contracted by a pregnant woman near term. In this case, you should talk to your dermatologist and gynecologist, who can evaluate a preventive drug therapy.
4) How is it diagnosed genital herpes?
The diagnosis is made by isolating the virus with a swab, which will differentiate HSV-1 (least severe) to HSV-2.
Through a blood test can detect the presence of antibodies, which will give indications about the time elapsed from the contagion.
5) How is genital herpes?
Usually the symptoms of genital herpes tend to disappear spontaneously within a few days.
The therapy aims to control symptoms, because there is no permanent cure for the virus. Therapy may be episodic, so it is to reduce the symptoms and accused pain during single episode, or suppressive, lasting at least six months to reduce the frequency of episodes and infectivity.
To reduce infectivity, it is advisable to use a condom during sexual intercourse and to abstain from relationships when you have the symptoms of herpes.
Editor Karin Moscow