Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection. The disease manifests itself with small rashes on the walls of the vagina and urethra, the labia, the anus. The frequency of herpesvirus infections is the same for men and women. To fully confirm the pathology, a special blood test is taken for markers of herpetic infection.
The incubation period is from 8 to 10 days inclusive. From the moment of infection to the active manifestation of the disease, the carrier is non-contagious. What does herpes on the labia look like, the photo and its treatment are below.
Signs and Symptoms
From ten to fourteen days the disease is asymptomatic, this period is called incubation, only on the tenth or even fourteenth day the first symptoms of genital herpes appear.
Symptoms of the appearance of genital herpes in women:
- After a viral infection enters the body, a woman rises in temperature.
- Redness of the skin appears on the mucous membrane.
- On the mucous membrane, the appearance of bubbles filled with liquid, this virus is localized in them.
- Pain from touching in the area of ulcers and vesicles.
- After the bubbles burst, ulcers form. They crust, and thus the wound heals.
- Burning and itching in the area of infection: this means that the bubbles are filled with fluid and the skin is stretched.
- With a strong decrease in immunity in the pubic and groin area, a rash appears.
- The body fights against a viral infection, it ejects a lot of lymphocytes, so the lymph nodes increase in the groin area.
This type of virus under a microscope can be seen below in the photo. Herpes on the labia gives serious complications to the pelvic organs and the nervous system, treatment should not be postponed.
Causes
The causes of genital herpes include the entry of a viral infection of HSV-1 and HSV-2 into the body. The transmission method of the virus is sexual or household.
- Herpes virus transmission in everyday life. With bodily contact, the use of common bath accessories or personal hygiene products, the virus enters the bloodstream through microtrauma or settles on the integument of the vaginal mucosa.
- Herpes virus transmission through sexual contact. Unprotected sex and many sexual partners cause infections, including herpetic infections. The incubation period of the disease is 8-10 days.
- Other methods of provoking the virus. In addition to direct transplacental transmission methods, there are still additional - subjective pathways of infection. These include:
- reduced immunity;
- extreme pollution of a residential facility;
- pregnancy;
- contraception using an IUD;
- multiple abortions;
- chemotherapeutic treatment.
To determine the exact cause of the herpes virus and its type, the local obstetrician-gynecologist will help you, who will conduct a survey and examination of the patient, prescribe additional laboratory tests to finalize the diagnosis.
Pharmacology
Treatment of herpes on the labia in women begins with a planned diagnosis. The first thing a doctor determines is the type of malware agent. Today, there are 8 of the most common types of infection, each of which is sensitive to a specific antibiotic complex.
External manifestations of the disease, in a mandatory case, can be treated with local solutions or ointments for external use, such as:
- “Acyclovir” (“Atsivir”, “Zovirax”, “Acyclovir-BSM”, “Virolex”, “Lizavir”, “Cyclovax”);
- Famciclovir (Valtrex);
- Penciclovir.
They contain in their composition substances that kill viruses and counteract their further spread on the mucous membranes. To eliminate the root cause of skin rashes, the obstetrician-gynecologist prescribes antibiotics or bacteriophages (potions to affect a specific type of virus) and immunomodulators:
- Amiksin;
- "Polyoxidonium";
- "Lycopid";
- Interferon
In a complex intake, these substances can not only cope with a viral attack, but also develop a stable immunity to external influences.
Herpes virus cannot be completely treated. Its cells integrate into a healthy biological environment and fall asleep after active drug poisoning. Therefore, at the stage of pregnancy planning, it is worth indicating the fact of a herpes infection in order to avoid exacerbation in the second trimester.
Propolis
Propolis is a good antiseptic; ointments, tinctures and herpes creams are made from it. To prepare the ointment, take 35 g of propolis and 100 g of petroleum jelly. Bring Vaseline to a boil, add propolis to it and cook for 10 minutes, then strain and cool.
For the cream you will need 3 g of propolis, 10 g of wax and 100 g of fresh vegetable oil. Grind propolis, pour in vegetable oil, put this mixture on a steam bath, stir and add wax and allow to dissolve, mix again and then remove. Allow to cool - and the cream is ready.
With ointment or cream, smear herpes three times a day, already on the fourth or fifth day, herpes will begin to dry out and will soon disappear.
Honey
Honey is a powerful folk remedy for the treatment of herpes, it is so strong that you do not need to make any medicine from it, just take a drop of honey and lubricate the affected part of the body with it. You need to do this three times a day for five days. It is recommended to take honey in a dark color, and it is desirable that it be in the comb or at least fresh, not crystallized.
Ginger
There are several ways to treat herpes with ginger, however in this article we will consider the most popular, namely: ginger with propolis tincture. The essence of this method is to mix propolis tincture with boiled water in a one to one ratio and mix the resulting mixture with ginger juice. The resulting fluid must be lubricated the affected areas twice a day for a week.
A mixture of juice from ginger root, brilliant green and iodine. Mix and apply equal amounts of liquid in the form of a compress. This compress should be done several times a day for 7-14 days, but you need to be careful: if the condition does not get better within 3-4 days, you must stop using this method, as overdrying of the skin or mucous membrane may occur.
Lemon
You can also cure this disease with lemon. Perhaps there is nothing simpler than this method: just cut the lemon into slices or squeeze the juice out of it, and apply the resulting product to herpes.
Clove
One of the proven methods in the fight against herpes is clove. The prescription for such a medicine is extremely simple - you need to take a few “cloves” and dissolve in your mouth for several minutes, then you should carefully chew the plant and swallow it.
Cloves can help get rid of herpes in the shortest possible time and muffle the virus. In addition, its action helps to forget about the symptoms of the disease for a long time and prevent possible relapses.
Soda
Also, common baking soda, stored in the kitchen of every housewife, can provide medicinal actions in the treatment of herpes. Thick slurry made from soda and a small amount of water has a calming anti-inflammatory effect. The resulting "ointment" must be carefully applied with a cotton swab to herpes, repeating the procedure after each drying. Nevertheless, it is worth considering that the effect of such a procedure is not long-term - soda is not able to prevent the reappearance of herpes rashes.
Salt
Herpes, like other skin lesions, quickly disappears with the beneficial effects of salt. This is due to the fact that it is able to dry the skin, and is also an aggressive factor for the development of weakly active bacteria. For treatment, it is necessary to apply salt about four times to the site of herpes. A saline based compress is also used. This solution is prepared by diluting three tablespoons of salt in a glass of water. Gauze is placed in the resulting solution, and then it is applied to the affected area.
Zinc ointment
Herpes is a viral infection. Zinc ointment will not defeat the virus, it has a beneficial effect on the skin condition when a cold sore occurs. Zinc ointment causes the following positive effects:
- anti-inflammatory effect;
- suppuration prophylaxis;
- drying effect;
- regenerative property.
Apple vinegar
Vinegar is used to treat cold sores. Local topical application as lotions acts on the rash, alleviating the consequences. With open sores of herpes, vinegar is not recommended for treatment. Apply by applying a small number of drops on a cotton swab, after which it is applied to the affected area. It is better to apply vinegar before breaking through the wound. As a rule, itching and pain precede rashes. Therefore, if signs of herpes appear, then use vinegar as a prophylaxis, which will protect against visual discomfort during the rash.
Laundry soap
For the prevention of herpes, household soap has proven itself well. To prevent lesions, regularly wash with laundry soap. If signs of the presence of herpes have already been identified, then you should resort to treatment with the above vinegar.
Herpes on the labia during pregnancy
Genital herpes during pregnancy is dangerous because this disease can infect a child. This occurs when the pathogen passes through the mother's genital tract through the placenta.
According to the development clinic during pregnancy, genital herpes on the labia is divided into the following types:
- Primary infection. It is dangerous for the fetus, as the mother begins to develop antibodies that fight the herpes virus, which leads to difficulties in the development of the baby. Danger of infection during the first and third trimester. During the first trimester, it can lead to a miscarriage, and in the third, a damage to the nervous system of the fetus is possible. According to statistics, if a mother contracted genital herpes during pregnancy, then the probability that a child is born with a deviation is about 80 percent.
- Relapse of an existing cold sore. If the mother recurred during pregnancy, then with a probability of one percent out of a hundred, the baby may be born with abnormalities. This is due to the fact that the mother’s body is already able to deal with this virus. In this case, the risk of infection of the child is very small compared with the primary infection.
Prevention
Preventive measures against herpes on the labia minora are easy to implement, the main one is aspiration.
- In the event that one of the family members is infected, it is necessary to beware of close contact with him until the therapy continues. That is practically no hugs and kisses.
- It is forbidden to use those things that belong to the patient.
- There should be no promiscuous sexual relationship. In the latter case, you need to worry about remedies. Be sure to apply after a sexual act, for example, Miramistin, which is considered a disinfectant.
- Seat on the toilet must be processed. On a plastic surface, the virus remains in a viable state for approximately 4 hours.
- The disease causes overheating and hypothermia. The stronger the immune system, the less likely the disease to progress. To strengthen immunity, treatment of chronic inflammatory processes must be carried out in a timely manner. Tonics will help strengthen the immune system. Excellent results can be achieved with the help of "Immunal", tinctures of eleutherococcus and echinacea.
- The main rule of prevention is the correct lifestyle. It is necessary to eat in moderation, to prevent a lack of vitamins and minerals, to use physiological stress, to observe the normal regime, as a result of which the body is able to relax and resume.
The photo below shows what a herpes virus looks like under a microscope.
Unfortunately, there are no such methods that would completely protect against microbes. The risk of infection should be kept in mind at all times, especially before sexual contact. Ideally, there should not be promiscuous sexual relationships, especially unprotected ones. If the partner has this disease, then it is better not to practice oral sex. Condom use should not be neglected. Of course, this is not 100% protection, but the possibility of infection will decrease.