Genital herpes is a highly contagious viral disease, which can be transmitted during sexual intercourse. Once infected, the person harbors the herpes virus for life, which occasionally manifests itself in the form of blisters on the genital tract.
Genital herpes is a viral disease that affects more than 270,000 people in France each year. The virus in question is particularly contagious. And sexually transmitted. It can be asymptomatic, which increases the risk of contagion because the person does not know they are carrying the virus. Or be accompanied by visible and painful signs. Women are more vulnerable than men to this virus. Among the risk factors, multiple sexual partners, or a deficient immune system that needs to be boosted (person undergoing chemotherapy, HIV infection, transplant…). Finally, the symptoms of genital herpes can be alleviated, but it cannot be cured. As a result of primary infection, the virus remains lodged in the body.
Symptoms of genital herpes
Genital herpes can be asymptomatic. The person is then a carrier of the virus in their mucous membranes, but ignores it. It can therefore transmit it all the more easily. Symptoms appear 1 and 3 weeks after infection. Itching and burning occur with the appearance of blisters. Then these vesicles dry out, give way to scabs and disappear within 8 days. Fever and unusual fatigue often complete the picture. In women, blisters appear on the vulva, vagina, anus and cervix, causing painful lesions. In humans, inflammation of the glans, foreskin and urethra is observed. But also of the anus. The lymph nodes in the groin are very tender and swollen.
Treatment and prevention of genital herpes
Because genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease, prevention is better than cure. It is therefore important to always have safe sex. Note that condoms prescribed by a doctor are reimbursed by Social Security. The treatment will work on the symptoms of herpes, but will not eradicate it. Hence possible recurrences. To soothe the pain, analgesics may be prescribed. They accompany oral or local antiviral treatments. If there are frequent recurrences (more than 6 times a year), or the sexual partner is at risk of serious complications, the treatment can be prolonged. And a point can be made with your doctor every 6 months.
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