What are the symptoms of herpes virus infection? How to prevent it?

Herpes simplex is a viral skin disease caused by the herpes simplex virus. Herpes often appears in many parts of the body. The affected area often shows symptoms such as dry skin, itching, and pain. So, what are the symptoms of herpes simplex virus infection?

Symptoms of herpes simplex virus infection

①Acute herpetic gingivitis. It is the most common primary infection. The onset is acute, with fever, redness and congestion of the oral cavity, tongue mucosa and gums, and the appearance of clusters of blisters, which rupture to form small ulcers. The ulcers can extend to the throat, palate, and occasionally to the esophagus and trachea. The patient has pain in the mouth and tongue, and enlarged and tender lymph nodes in the neck. It usually heals itself after 1 to 2 weeks.

②Skin herpes. Herpes often occurs in local skin, the skin around the herpes becomes congested, and the herpes dries and forms scabs and heals. Eczema that occurs on the basis of skin eczema is called eczema herpeticum. HSV infection in patients with herpetic eczema and skin burns can cause systemic infection, severe illness and high mortality rate.

③Acute herpetic keratoconjunctivitis. Herpes can be seen locally on the bulbar conjunctiva, with little secretion. When the lesion is in the cornea, dendritic ulcers can be seen on the surface of the cornea. Deeper ulcers may cause corneal leukoplakia after healing, which often affects vision. They may also cause anterior chamber abscess, iridocyclitis and uveitis, which may cause blindness.

④Genital herpes. It is mostly caused by HSV-2, which is a sexually transmitted disease that occurs in the cervix, vagina or vulva of women, and the glans penis, foreskin, coronal sulcus and surrounding skin of men. Herpes occurs first, which then breaks down to become superficial ulcers, causing local pain, and may also be accompanied by fever, difficulty urinating, and swollen and tender inguinal lymph nodes.

⑤Acute herpetic nervous system infection. It is less common and may manifest as encephalitis, meningitis, myelitis, radiculitis, etc. Herpes encephalitis is a serious disease with a mortality rate of around 50%, and survivors often suffer from permanent sequelae.

⑥ Systemic disseminated infection. It manifests as herpetic lesions of the brain, liver, lungs, eyes, adrenal glands and skin and mucous membranes throughout the body. Patients have high fever, cough, dyspnea, cyanosis, jaundice, convulsions, coma and herpes on the skin and mucous membranes throughout the body. The mortality rate is extremely high, reaching 60-70%.

⑦ Congenital infection. The fetus of a woman with genital herpes may be congenitally infected with HSV, resulting in miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, and congenital malformations such as microcephaly, microphthalmia, chorioretinitis, developmental delay, and mental retardation.

Precautions for preventing herpes simplex

1. Remember to wash your hands after touching the wound to prevent the virus from spreading from your hands.

2. Avoid kissing eyes, and do not share tableware, towels, lipsticks, oral hygiene products, razors, etc.

3. Patients with genital herpes should avoid all kinds of sexual activities during an outbreak.

4. Patients with genital herpes should use condoms throughout their sexual intercourse. Even when not sick, people with genital herpes can still transmit the virus to others.

5. Female patients with genital herpes must not have a relapse within one year after stopping medication before they can become pregnant. Pregnant women infected with genital herpes are more likely to suffer miscarriage, premature birth or stillbirth. If the infection is passed on to the fetus, the mortality rate of neonatal herpes is as high as 50%.