Genital herpes (genital herpes)

Geni­tal her­pes is a sexu­al­ly trans­mit­ted infec­tion cau­sed by her­pes sim­plex viru­s­es. Type 2 (HSV‑2) is usual­ly respon­si­ble, but type 1 (HSV‑1), which nor­mal­ly cau­ses cold sores, can also affect the geni­tal regi­on. Trans­mis­si­on occurs through direct skin or mucous mem­bra­ne cont­act during sexu­al inter­cour­se, but also during oral sex.

Cau­ses

The infec­tion is par­ti­cu­lar­ly con­ta­gious when visi­ble blis­ters are pre­sent, but the virus can also be trans­mit­ted wit­hout sym­ptoms. After the initi­al infec­tion, the virus remains in the ner­ve gan­glia for life and can be reac­ti­va­ted again and again. The initi­al infec­tion is often more seve­re than later outbreaks.

Sym­ptoms

After an incu­ba­ti­on peri­od of two to twel­ve days, the first sym­ptoms are ting­ling, bur­ning or pain in the geni­tal regi­on. Then grou­ped, pain­ful blis­ters form on a red­den­ed back­ground on the penis, vul­va, vagi­na, cer­vix, anus or sur­roun­ding are­as. The blis­ters burst and lea­ve behind pain­ful ulcers. In addi­ti­on, fever, hea­da­ches, mus­cle pain and swol­len lymph nodes in the gro­in area may occur. Uri­na­ti­on can be very painful.

Heal­ing takes two to three weeks. Recur­ren­ces occur in around 50 per­cent of tho­se infec­ted, usual­ly trig­ge­red by stress, ill­ness, mens­trua­ti­on or immu­n­ode­fi­ci­en­cy. The­se recur­ren­ces are usual­ly mil­der and heal more quickly.

Dia­gno­sis

The dia­gno­sis is made cli­ni­cal­ly and can be con­firm­ed by a swab from the vesic­les with virus detec­tion using PCR. A blood test for anti­bo­dies is also pos­si­ble. A cure is not pos­si­ble as the virus remains in the body for life. Tre­at­ment is aimed at alle­via­ting sym­ptoms and shor­tening out­breaks. Anti­vi­ral drugs such as acy­clo­vir, vala­ci­clo­vir or famci­clo­vir should be taken at the first signs and shor­ten the dura­ti­on and seve­ri­ty of symptoms.

Tre­at­ment

In the case of fre­quent recur­ren­ces, long-term sup­pres­si­ve the­ra­py may be advi­sa­ble. Sexu­al inter­cour­se should be avo­ided during an out­break. Con­doms redu­ce the risk of trans­mis­si­on, but do not offer com­ple­te protection.