Symptoms Of Herpes

Genital herpes is so common that according to recent estimates, it has infected 50 million Americans. In the last 40 years, the rate of infection has grown by 30%, and the majority of new victims are teenagers and young adults. Among the infected, old and new, 90% don't even realize they have it, partly because the symptoms can be so mild.   The redness and blistering caused by genital herpes is easily confused with minor ailments ranging from yeast infections and hemorrhoids to pimples and jock itch. People may have an outbreak of herpes but believe they are suffering only from razor burns, or mosquito bites, or an ingrown hair.   Moreover, the symptoms can be rare.  Some people with herpes have outbreaks only when they are first infected.  

Once you're infected, the virus never leaves the body.  However, there are two ways to stay herpes-free if you haven't been infected yet: abstain from any sexual contact, including kissing, or choose a monogamous sexual relationship with some one else who is still herpes-free.  Latex condoms can help prevent the transmission of the disease during sexual intercourse, but they are not 100% reliable because sometimes semen leaks from the base of a condom.  Oral sex can and does transmit genital herpes if the partner who's giving oral sex has HSV-2 derived cold sores on his or her mouth.

The type 1 virus, (HSV-1), is even more common than HSV-2.  According to some estimates, 80% of adult Americans are infected with HSV-1, and the virus can be transmitted even with a quick kiss on the lips.  

HSV infects nerve cells under the skin by incorporating its DNA into the nerve cell nuclei.  It only causes outbreaks when it leaves its adopted home and travels back up to the surface of the skin.  

After a first outbreak of symptoms following initial infection, the virus tends to go into hiding, and the trademark sores of herpes only come back when the infected person is under stress during, say, another illness, or during the menstrual cycle, or the beginning of a relationship with a new sex partner.  
In the first few years of a herpes infection, people have an average of five outbreaks.  The longer you've had the infection, the less it is likely to trouble you.   Outbreaks tend to happen less and less often; they hurt less each time, and heal more quickly.  

Because HSV lodges in the nerve cells, rather than the skin, 50% of herpes-infected people who've had a first outbreak can sense a subsequent outbreak approaching, anywhere from a few hours to three days before the symptoms become visible.   The virus causes feelings called "prodromes."  It makes them tingle, burn, itch, or feel numb.  They may feel tenderness or pain on the site of the future blister.  

People have varied reactions to the herpes virus, and while many infected patients experience few symptoms, others must deal with a host of complications.   HSV can infect the lips and cause blisters or cold sores.  It can attack the hands and fingers, causing a cluster of tiny bumps known as herpetic whitlow.  If it infects the anus, the sores and blisters it creates there can hurt more than many other herpes symptoms. In some cases, herpes may infect the eyes and risks causing blindness if it is not treated right away.   The most common sign of herpes in the eyes is severe irritation or pain.  

Viral meningitis is one particularly severe complication of genital herpes.  It is rare, but most likely to occur in adults with weakened immune systems and newborn infants infected by their mothers.   Viral meningitis is an infection of the CSF (cerebrospinal fluid).   Although less dangerous than more common forms of bacterial meningitis, it can lead to headaches, impaired vision, photophobia (light sensitivity), nausea and high fevers, irritability, severe sleepiness, seizures, and among infants, a fontanelle, or enlarged soft spot.  Sometimes, herpes-infected infants can develop encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain in response to the infection.   This is extremely dangerous for the infant, because it can impair or even destroy brain function.  It must be treated immediately with acyclovir, an anti-viral medication.    Good prenatal care can prevent the transmission of herpes from a pregnant woman to her child.  

Genital herpes is not life threatening on its own.   However, open herpes sores can literally clear the path for HIV infection.    Genital herpes can increase the risk of getting HIV, and if a person with herpes also has HIV, each disease makes the other more dangerous.  A few minor herpes blisters in a person with immune deficiencies can quickly evolve into a case of severe ulcers.  Pregnant women with herpes also run the risk of infecting their infants during delivery.  Between 30 and 50% of pregnant, newly infected women will pass the virus onto their babies, especially if they're infected toward the end of their pregnancies.   Therefore, infected women usually have their babies delivered by C-section.  A final problem is that women with herpes appear to have a slightly elevated risk of getting cervical cancer.  

The take home message?  Genital herpes is hard to avoid.    Although under certain circumstances it can be a dangerous disease, particularly for HIV positive people and pregnant women who could pass it on to their babies, for most people most of the time, it is little more than an annoyance. 

* This article is based on the information at http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/STDFact-herpes.htm,http://health.yahoo.com/sexualhealth-overview/genital-herpes-topic-overview/healthwise--te3043.html, http://www.herpes.org/,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_simplex,http://www.webmd.com/genital-herpes/default.htm