COMMON DISEASES IN MEN: GENITAL HERPES, SYMPTOMS, CAUSES AND TREATMENT.
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that causes painful wounds on the patient’s genitals. Sexual contact is the main way the virus spreads. After the initial infection, the virus lies dormant in your body and reactivates several times a year. If infected, you are contagious even if you don’t have an obvious ulcer.
There is no cure for genital herpes, but medication can relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of infecting others. Condoms can also help prevent the spread of genital herpes infections.
SYMPTOMS
People with HSV infection are mostly unaware because there are no signs or symptoms, or because the signs and symptoms are very mild.
If symptoms develop, they may begin 2 to 12 days after exposure to the virus. Possible genital herpes symptoms include:
- pain or itching. You may experience pain and tenderness in your genital area until the infection goes away.
- Small red bumps or tiny white blisters. These symptoms may appear days to weeks after infection.
- ulcer. Ulcers may form when the blisters burst, ooze, or bleed. Ulcers may cause painful urination.
- scab. As the ulcer heals, the skin scabs over.
During the first outbreak, you may have flu-like signs and symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes in the groin, headache, muscle pain, and fever.
Symptom location differences
Sores develop on infected parts of the body. After touching the sore, rubbing or rubbing another body part, such as the eye, can spread the infection.
Sore sites in both men and women include:
- buttocks and thighs
- anus
- oral cavity
- urethra (the tube through which urine exits the body from the bladder)
Women’s sores also include:
- vaginal area
- external genitalia
- cervix
Sores in men also include:
- penis
- scrotum
Relapse is common
Genital herpes is different for every patient. Signs and symptoms can recur, intermittently, for years. Some people have multiple episodes each year. However, for most people, flare-ups decrease in frequency over time.
During a recurrence, you may feel the following before the ulcer appears:
- Burning, tingling, and itching on the first affected body part
- lower back, hip and leg pain
In general, however, recurrences are less painful than initial episodes, and ulcers heal faster.
Causes
Two types of herpes simplex virus infection can cause genital herpes:
HSV-1.
This type usually causes cold sores or fever blisters to appear around the mouth. HSV-1 is usually spread through skin-to-skin contact, but it can spread to the genital area during oral sex. Compared with HSV-2 infection, the frequency of recurrence is much lower.
HSV–2.
This type usually causes genital herpes. This virus usually spread through sexual and skin-to-skin contacts of
- humans. HSV-2 is very common and highly contagious, whether you have sores or not.
Because the virus dies rapidly outside the human body, it is nearly impossible to contract the virus through contact with toilets, towels or other objects used by an infected person.
Treatment Method
| There is no cure for genital herpes. However, as long as you receive medication, the discomfort caused by the symptoms can be relieved. Long-term drug treatment can reduce the chance of recurrence. How to save yourself When genital herpes occurs, you can try the following methods to relieve the condition: Painkillers can be taken when the affected area is sore.Keep the affected area dry and clean, never apply ointments or creams. Dip the wound site with warm saline (half a pint of water mixed with half a teaspoon of salt) 1 to 2 times a day to help keep the wound dry.Wear loose-fitting clothing and cotton underwear. If it hurts to urinate, soak it in water to urinate. Drinking plenty of boiled water to dilute the urine can also reduce the symptoms of painful urination.Eating a balanced diet, getting plenty of exercise, and getting plenty of rest can help your body fight genital herpes recurrences. Since the virus can be transmitted to your partner through direct contact with blisters and wounds, you should avoid sexual contact during the illness and avoid kissing if there are wounds around the mouth. Using a condom can reduce the risk of transmission, but it is unlikely to provide protection if the infected wound is found elsewhere in the body (eg the scrotum). Be careful not to spread the virus to other parts of the body. Wash hands with soap before and after touching the wound. If you suspect that you have genital herpes, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. |