What is genital herpes? What are the symptoms? How to classify?

Genital herpes is caused by infection with a herpes virus, and most herpes causes itching. So what is genital herpes? What are the symptoms? How to classify?

(1) Primary genital herpes: incubation period 2 to 7 days. The patient has systemic symptoms such as headache, myalgia, fever, and weakness. The primary lesion is one or more itchy red papules, which quickly turn into blisters. After 3 to 5 days, the blisters rupture to form erosions and ulcers, accompanied by pain. The lesions are solitary or healed, and are more common on the glans penis, coronal sulcus, penis shaft or urethral orifice in men and on the labia, perianal area or vagina in women. About 90% of them invade the cervix at the same time and may also affect the rectal mucosa. Generally, systemic symptoms can last for 5 to 7 days, and the entire disease process lasts about 6 weeks. There is still a chance of recurrence after recovery.

(2) Recurrent genital herpes: Recurrence usually occurs within 1 to 4 months after primary infection, with a recurrence rate of approximately 60%. Fatigue, indigestion, menstrual cramps, climate change, mood swings, etc. can all be triggering factors. When relapse occurs, the rash is usually still at the primary site, and the clinical manifestations are similar to the primary one, but the symptoms are milder, the rash is smaller in area, and the course of the disease is shorter. It usually heals itself within a few days. 1 to 2 days before recurrence, there are often prodromal symptoms such as local itching or burning sensation. The vast majority of patients with recurrent genital herpes seen clinically are male, and female patients often do not seek medical treatment because their symptoms are not obvious. The course of the disease is short after onset, and it usually takes an average of 8 days to recover.

(3) Rectal and anal herpes virus infection: occurs in male homosexuals. The patient has anorectal pain, anal discharge, and a feeling of urgency and heaviness during bowel movements.

(4) Neonatal infection: Primary genital herpes in pregnant women can often lead to miscarriage, premature birth, fetal abnormalities or even stillbirth. 50% of neonatal infections occur during delivery through the birth canal of pregnant women with primary infection, which may cause high fever, herpes, hepatosplenomegaly, encephalitis, sepsis, and even death. When pregnant women have recurrent infection, the chance of newborn infection is 5%.