Genital herpes is a fairly common problem. Statistical studies suggest that almost 20% of the world's population are carriers of the virus of this disease. In most cases, the infection is quite easily cured, especially with timely diagnosis. On the other hand, the development of inflammation of the urinary system and other complications is not ruled out.
In the light of such facts, information about this viral disease will be useful for every person. How is genital herpes transmitted ? Are there effective methods of protection against the virus? What symptoms are worth paying attention to? What treatment can modern medicine offer? How dangerous is this disease? The answers to these questions are sought by many readers.
General information about genital herpes
It is no secret that the family of herpes viruses is quite large and unites more than 200 different types. And before considering the question of how the herpes virus is transmitted, it is worth learning more about the causative agent of this ailment.
By the way, the "culprits" of the development of the disease are two main types, namely: HSV-1 and HVS-2, which are commonly referred to as herpes simplex viruses. The virions of these two types are quite similar - the differences between them are only in the different composition of the protein coat glycoproteins. Symptoms of genital herpes can develop with tissue infection with any of these types of herpes. Nevertheless, statistical studies confirm that damage to the genital mucosa more often appears in connection with the activity of herpes simplex of the second type.
How is genital herpes transmitted?
Herpetic viral infection is extremely common among the modern population. So how is genital herpes transmitted? The main route of infection is unprotected sex with infected people. At the same time, the probability of catching an infection is more if your partner's herpes is in an acute stage. By the way, not only traditional vaginal contacts are potentially dangerous - viral particles can also pass from person to person during oral and anal intercourse.
Many people are interested in questions about whether genital herpes is transmitted by airborne droplets. The answer to this question is no, since virions are destroyed very quickly in the external environment. Household transmission is possible, but the likelihood of catching an infection using towels or other things with an infected person is much lower.
Is genital herpes transmitted through blood? Of course, yes. It is also possible infection of the fetus during pregnancy, if the mother is a carrier of viral particles. By the way, the activation of herpes during this period is quite dangerous, as this can harm the body of the mother and child.
How does the disease develop? Brief description of physiological changes
We have already examined the issue of how genital herpes is transmitted. Regardless of how exactly the pathogenic virions entered the human body, the pattern of their development looks the same. Through the mucous membranes, the viral particles "migrate" to the tissues of the genital organs, after which they are introduced into the cells. The genetic material of the virus is incorporated into the DNA of human cells, as a result of which they begin to synthesize not only their own, but also viral copies of the genetic material. This is how the virus multiplies. When the number of infected cells rises sharply, the standard symptoms of herpes develop.
Moreover, viral particles spread to nerve fibers. And if after treatment all the infected cells are destroyed and replaced with new and healthy ones, the virus particles remain in the nerve ganglia. That is why it is completely impossible to cure a person of herpetic infection - there is always a risk of relapse.
Are there any risk factors?
We found out the answer to the question of how the herpes virus is transmitted. But, according to scientific research and statistics, there are groups of people who are diagnosed with this infection more often than others. For example, it has been proven that antibodies to herpes viruses are more common in homosexuals and people of the Negroid race . The same can be attributed to the fair sex - women are much easier to catch a similar infection.
Naturally, people who lead a promiscuous sex life can be attributed to the risk group, because the virus is most often transmitted sexually. Genital herpes is also often diagnosed in combination with other sexually transmitted diseases, since a weakened immune system is not able to protect the body from the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms.
It is also worth saying that far from all carriers of this pathogen, the symptoms of the disease manifest. Many people have not been suspected of having an infection for years. The fact is that a healthy immune system clearly controls the number of viral particles, preventing the infection from multiplying and spreading.
As a rule, the onset of symptoms of genital herpes is associated with a weakening of the immune defense, which, in turn, can be a consequence of vitamin deficiencies, pregnancy, sudden changes in climate, overheating and hypothermia, smoking. Also, the activation of the herpes virus is often observed in the presence of colds, which briefly reduce the activity of the immune system. Do not forget that frequent stresses, constant fatigue, emotional stress, nervous breakdowns - all this affects the state of immunity and can activate a herpes viral infection.
The main symptoms of the disease
It is immediately worth noting that prolonged preservation of the symptoms of genital herpes is not necessary. Moreover, quite often the primary disease proceeds without any symptoms. In such cases, doctors talk about virus carrier - a condition in which a person is a source of infection, but he himself does not have any complications or disorders.
But another clinical picture is also possible. Approximately 1-10 days after infection, itching and a burning sensation appear in the genital area. Sometimes there is also swelling of the mucous membranes. These are the first signs of genital herpes.
After some time, a characteristic rash begins to appear on the mucous membrane, which looks like vesicles with watery contents. The skin around the rashes turns red, and the itching often becomes stronger.
As the disease progresses, an increase in lymph nodes in the inguinal zone is possible, which confirms the presence of an infectious inflammatory process. In addition, in some patients, other signs of intoxication are observed, namely: fever, weakness, chills, fatigue, muscle aches. After a few days (usually 2-4), the vesicles begin to crack, their contents come out, and small sores form at the site of the rashes.
This stage, as a rule, lasts about 2-5 weeks. With proper and timely treatment, the main symptoms of herpes disappear after 1-3 weeks. By the way, in some people, an exacerbation of the disease goes away on its own, without the use of any drugs.
Approximately 75% of patients have so-called recurrent genital herpes, which is a recurring exacerbation of the disease from time to time. Such relapses pass relatively easily - there is neither weakness nor fever. The same rash forms on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital organs, although in much smaller quantities. Rashes disappear faster and do not cause such severe discomfort.
Features of genital herpes in women
Of course, the characteristics of the disease directly depend on the patient's gender. For example, in women, a rash appears not only on the labia, but also on the mucous membrane of the vagina, around the anus, sometimes even on the skin of the buttocks. To the overall clinical picture of a woman, drawing pains in the lower abdomen are added, which intensify in the second half of the menstrual cycle. Sometimes the pain is quite palpable, it can give into the rectum.
Complications of genital herpes can be dangerous. For example, patients are sometimes diagnosed with the so-called atypical form of the disease. The disease is not accompanied by a standard set of symptoms. There are no rashes, soreness and itching. Nevertheless, there is a constant chronic inflammation of the pelvic organs. This affects the condition of the reproductive system, and sometimes leads to complete infertility.
Features of the course of the disease in men
Herpes in men is also accompanied by the appearance of rashes, and they are localized mainly on the glans penis. Quite often, patients complain of pain that spreads to the perineum.
If untreated, the infection can lead to an inflammatory process of the urethra. A fairly common complication is urethritis (inflammation of the urethra). Damage to the prostate gland by the herpes virus can lead to the development of acute prostatitis.
Modern diagnostic methods
Diagnosis of genital herpes is a rather lengthy process. If there is any suspicion of infection, you should immediately consult a doctor. As a rule, an anamnesis should be taken first and the patient examined for the presence of the main external symptoms of the disease. For example, characteristic vesicles can be found on the skin of the genital organs.
By the way, sometimes the contents of the vesicles are taken for analysis, during which the viral particles are planted on the chicken embryo, observing the development and death of cells. Such a study is quite time-consuming, but it makes it possible to accurately determine the type of virus and determine its sensitivity to certain drugs.
PCR diagnostics are considered fairly accurate. Also, in modern medicine, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is often used, during which the presence of antibodies not to the virus, but to it, is determined in the blood, which indicates a previous illness and, accordingly, the presence of herpes virions in the patient's body.
What treatment does modern medicine offer?
Of course, the treatment regimen is determined individually and directly depends on the severity of the disease, the age and sex of the patient, the individual characteristics of the body, the presence or absence of complications. Nevertheless, some common features can be distinguished.
The basis of therapy is antiviral drugs. The most popular and effective drugs include Acyclovir, Valaciclovir, Famciclovir, Foscarnet, and many others. To date, these medicines are available in various forms, including tablets, solutions for intravenous and external use, ointments and gels that help relieve itching and burning. According to statistical studies, the level of effectiveness of these drugs is 60-70%. In most cases, therapy with antiviral drugs lasts 7-10 days.
Quite often, treatment is supplemented with drugs that stimulate the body's production of its own interferon. Such drugs activate the immune system, accelerating the healing process. The most effective means include Amiksin, Arbidol, Poludan. By the way, it is these drugs that are prescribed for the planned prevention of recurrent genital herpes.
Genital herpes during pregnancy: what is the danger?
Infection with herpes during pregnancy is extremely dangerous, both for a woman and for a growing fetus. The consequences of the disease depend on many factors. For example, if the expectant mother was infected during the first trimester, then a high probability of spontaneous abortion. In addition, viral particles can penetrate the fetal tissues, causing disturbances in its further development.
Herpes activation in the later stages of pregnancy can lead to premature birth, which is also fraught with complications, because we are talking about a premature baby. And there is also a chance of infection of the fetus during childbirth and the development of herpes in a newborn baby, whose body carries this infection quite hard. The decision on how to treat genital herpes during pregnancy can only be made by the attending physician, since not all antiviral drugs are allowed during this period.
Basic preventive measures
Knowing how genital herpes is transmitted and how it occurs, it is quite simple to assume exactly what prevention looks like. Since mostly viral particles are transmitted during sexual intercourse, it is extremely important to use condoms. Nevertheless, even they cannot guarantee 100% protection, and therefore, during an exacerbation of the disease, experts recommend completely abandoning contacts with a partner.
From time to time, you can take a course of taking antiviral agents, which reduce the likelihood of relapse in an infected person and minimize the possibility of infection passing to a healthy person. But, again, only the attending physician can prescribe such drugs.
After unprotected intercourse with a virus carrier, you can treat the external genitalia with an antiseptic. And of course, it is worth following the diet, maintaining physical activity, walking in the fresh air, in a word, strengthening the immune system.