genital herpes

Herpes What is Herpes? Learn the signs and symptoms.

n.
A highly contagious, sexually transmitted viral infection of the genital and anal regions caused by herpes simplex and characterized by small clusters of painful lesions.

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Genital herpes is a recurrent, incurable sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by one of two types of the herpes simplex virus (HSV): HSV type-I or HSV type-2. Persons infected with HSV remain infected for life and can transmit the virus to others during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Each year, as many as 1 million Americans contract genital herpes. Some infected persons have outbreaks of sores and can transmit the virus when the sores touch a mucous membrane or small break in the skin of an uninfected person. Persons with no symptoms can also transmit HSV. All infected persons periodically reproduce HSV and silently shed virus in their genital tracts. During these shedding episodes, they can transmit HSV to a sex partner.

Most persons infected with HSV are not aware of their infection. If symptoms occur during a first episode of genital herpes, however, they can be quite severe and prolonged. Most persons who suffer a symptomatic first episode have several recurrences per year. Genital herpes can also reactivate without causing any visible symptoms. At these times, small amounts of virus are shed at or near sites of the original infection, in genital or oral fluids, or from nonvisible sores. This asymptomatic shedding usually lasts only a day but is enough to infect a sex partner.

Herpes is not curable, but antiviral drugs can partially control the duration and severity of episodes. Genital herpes rarely has serious physical consequences, except for newborns and persons with weakened immune systems. A pregnant woman who develops a first episode of genital herpes close to delivery can pass the virus to her newborn during childbirth. Herpes infection in a newborn can be fatal.

(SEE ALSO: Sexually Transmitted Diseases)

Bibliography

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1998). "1998 Guidelines for Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 47(RR-1):20–26.

Corey, L., and Wald, A. (1999). "Genital Herpes." In Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 3rd edition, eds. K. Holmes, P. Mardh, P. Sparling et al. New York: McGraw-Hill.

— ALLISON L. GREENSPAN; JOEL R. GREENSPAN

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A highly contagious infection characterized by painful lesions in the genital areas. See also Herpes gladiatorum; scrumpox.

For a list of words related to genital herpes, see:

• Diseases and Infestations - genital herpes: infection of genital area by herpes simplex virus

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