What Is Herpes Simplex?

Herpes simplex is a virus defined by the production of painful blisters on the skin and in some cases on the mouth and lips. It may also appear on the genitals, with the location and frequency of sores varying from patient to patient. It is also known as cold sores, or fever blisters. It is infectious, and can be easily transmitted from person to person through direct skin contact, as well as unprotected sexual intercourse. Sufferers may also experience swollen glands and general flu-like symptoms. The virus can also spread into the more serious herpes simplex encephalitis strain, where is spreads to the central nervous system and can cause death. Although there is no cure for herpes simplex, it can be treated using medications including Zovirax, and Valtrex, which help in preventing the virus from spreading and causing serious damage within the body. Preventative methods that can be employed against contracting the virus include the use of condoms, and the drug Valaciclovir.

The prevalence of this disease is rapidly increasing.

There are two types of herpes virus hominis:  type 1 commonly affecting the nose, mouth, and more rarely the cornea, genital or anal area; type 2 commonly affecting the latter two sites and the mouth less often.  Both types cause whitlows.

Three quarters of adult population have antibodies to this virus, indicating they have been infected.

After an incubation period of 2 – 21 days signs and symptoms in the genital area are mainly those of painful ulceration.  Small, irritant blisters appear on the perineum, vulva, vagina, cervix, or penis, and burst leaving small red painful erosions.  Unlike the chancres of syphilis, the base of these erosions is not hard.

In a woman Dysuria, due to urine irritating the sores, may be so acute that retention can result; it may only be possible for her to pass urine in a warm bath.  Women may also experience a purulent vaginal discharge.  There may be rectal and pharyngeal involvement as a result of some sexual practices.  The lesions are highly infectious but heal spontaneously after 2 – 4 weeks.

Herpes is a rare cause of urethritis in men. Once the attack is over, the virus lies dormant in nerve ganglia from whence it can not be eradicated.  Second attack occurs in about 70% of people but recurrences are likely to be progressively milder, less frequent and to resolve more rapidly.