What is genital herpes

With the continuous improvement of modernization, people's quality of life is also constantly improving, and people's pace of life is also constantly accelerating. It is precisely because of this situation that people know more things, so this is also good, and genital herpes is one of them, so this is also a good thing.

As for what genital herpes is, there are actually many different opinions in society, so everyone has many choices. Below is some information about what genital herpes is, and I hope everyone can make good use of it.

The incidence of genital herpes in Western countries is second only to gonorrhea and non-gonococcal urethritis, and it is also one of the common sexually transmitted diseases in my country. The disease has a high incidence rate and can infect newborns through the placenta and birth canal, leading to miscarriage and neonatal death. It is also related to the occurrence of cervical cancer. It is very harmful and there is no effective treatment, so it has attracted people's attention.

Genital herpes is caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is transmitted through close contact with the respiratory tract, skin and mucous membranes, mainly causing infections of the lips, pharynx, eyes and skin. A small number (about 10%) can also cause genital infections. HSV-2 is the main pathogen of genital herpes (90%). It exists in exudates of skin and mucous membrane lesions, semen, prostatic secretions, cervical and vaginal secretions. It is mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse and causes primary genital herpes. After primary genital herpes subsides, the remaining virus remains dormant in the sacral ganglia for a long time along the neural axis through the peripheral nerves. When the body's resistance is reduced or certain stimulating factors such as fever, cold, infection, menstruation, gastrointestinal dysfunction, trauma, etc. act, the latent virus in the body can be activated and relapse. Humans are the only host of the herpes virus. The virus cannot survive outside the human body. Ultraviolet rays, ether and general disinfectants can inactivate it.

[On average, about 4 to 5 days after infection, the affected part of the vulva will first feel a burning sensation, followed by the development of papules in groups, which may be one or more clusters, followed by the formation of blisters.

After a few days, it develops into a pustule, which then breaks to form an erosion or shallow ulcer, causing pain. It eventually scabs and heals on its own. The course of the disease is about 2 to 3 weeks. Skin lesions are common in men on the foreskin, glans, coronal sulcus and penis, and occasionally at the urethral orifice; in women, they are more common in the labia majora and minora, clitoris, mons pubis, cervix, and also at the urethral orifice. Primary genital herpes is often accompanied by general discomfort, low fever, headache and other systemic symptoms, and local swollen lymph nodes. The disease often recurs. Recurrent genital herpes is milder than primary one, causes less damage, and often has no systemic symptoms. Male homosexuals may develop anorectal HSV-2 infection, which has a incidence rate second only to anorectal inflammation caused by gonococci. Clinical manifestations include anorectal pain, constipation, increased secretions and tenesmus, herpetic ulcers perianal area, and sigmoidoscopy often reveals congestion, bleeding and small ulcers in the lower rectal mucosa. The diagnosis is not difficult based on typical features such as clusters of blisters on the vulva, local burning sensation, history of recurrence, and short course of disease. Specific antibodies have little practical value in diagnosis.

Through the above understanding and introduction, I believe everyone can have a certain understanding of what genital herpes is. At the same time, I hope that the above knowledge can be helpful to everyone. At the same time, I also hope that everyone can do more about hygiene and safety issues in daily life, and develop a good habit of going to bed early and getting up early.