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Herpes Genital

The genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. It is caused by HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus) type 1 and 2.
Infection with the virus HSV2 affects the genitals, and is transmitted through sexual contact.
The virus is found in the skin ulcers that causes. The contact with the sores, transmitting the virus. Also the virus can be located in the skin of the genital area, even if there are no local signs of infection.
When the virus HSV challenge the body remains forever. 
The virus HSV1 causes infections mainly in the mouth and on the lips (cold sores). This virus after the first infection that will cause, remains forever in the body.
It has the ability to turn on again, and creates damages on the lips and in the mouth. This happens when the patient has another disease, or when, for various reasons, decreases the defense of the statute of the.
The virus HSV1, except for the cold sores can cause genital herpes. This is what happens when the genital area of someone, come in contact with the saliva of someone else who suffers from cold sores.
Infection with the virus HSV1 genital and genital area, it happens only in the case of oral sex.

Symptoms

The first points after infection by the virus HSV2, occur usually after 2 weeks.
Initially, appear small blisters on the genitals or in the area of the anus.Then broken and caused local ulcers of the skin accompanied by pain and itching.It can be accompanied by swelling of the βουβωνικών lymph nodes, a general malaise and rarely fever.
The ulcers heal after two weeks. But there is a possibility to occur again in the same clinical signs.
Also, most of the patients infected by the virus HSV2, without realising it because their symptoms are mild or even not present damages, or if the experience is limited with the result that to think that this is something else.
Patients who develop clinical signs of genital herpes, may have recurrences of the disease, with recurrent episodes of up to 4 to 5 times of the year.
But gradually with the passage of time, the frequency and severity of new episodes of genital herpes is reduced.

Pregnancy And Herpes Genital

The genital herpes can cause serious and fatal infections in newborns whose mother has an active infection of the genitals at the time of childbirth.
If a woman has active infection with herpes during childbirth, it is recommended that a cesarean section to prevent transmission and infection of the newborn with the virus HSV.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis can be made with a clinical overview.
Also, the taking of samples from the skin lesions may help with the diagnosis. Is it possible for this material to identify cells that have been infected. Also, it can be found and antigens from the virus.
Blood tests can show the presence of antibodies that were generated against the virus HSV2 or HSV1.

How Common Is The Disease?

The frequency of genital herpes has increased dramatically.
According to data published by the Centers for disease Control and Prevention of Diseases of the United States, 1 out of every five people over the age of 12 years, has been infected with a virus HSV2.
In women, the genital herpes is more common than in men. 
It is estimated that 1 in 4 women has been infected with a virus HSV2.
This is probably due to the fact that the transmission from the man to the woman it is more easy than the other way around.

Treatment And Prevention

There is no cure today, which eradicates the virus from the body.
There are drugs against the virus HSV, which can reduce the duration and the frequency of events and relapses of the disease.
Drugs such as acyclovir can be used topically and systematically from the mouth.
The best prevention in the case of sexual contact is the use of a condom.
If one of the two sexual partners presents genital herpes is in progress, it is preferable not to have sexual intercourse while there are no clinical signs. It is also better to use a condom.

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