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Health condition
When a person has genital herpes, the virus lies dormant (sleeps)
in the bundle of nerves at the base of the spine. When the virus
reactivates (wakes up), it travels nerve paths to the surface
of the skin, sometimes causing an outbreak. The nerves in the
genitals, upper thighs and buttocks are connected; therefore,
a person can experience outbreaks in any of these areas. Such
areas include:
- Anus
- Buttocks
- Penis
- Scrotum or testicles
- Thigh
- Vagina
- Vulva
Outbreaks of genital herpes can vary greatly from
person to person. They can be mild for one individual and severe
for another. Symptoms may last for up to 3 to 4 weeks, but they
usually heal within 2 to 12 days. Symptoms may include the following:
· One or more sores, blisters, cuts, pimples,
bumps or a rash
· Itching, burning or tingling in the genital area ·
Aches or pains in the genital area
· Flu-like symptoms (headache, fever, swollen glands in
lymph nodes near groin)
· Painful urination and a discharge (vaginal or penile)
are possible, but uncommon, symptoms for genital herpes
· Many people have outbreaks that heal quickly, cause no
pain or occur in an unnoticeable spot. People sometimes mistake
herpes outbreaks for:
- Insect bites
- Yeast infections
- Jock itch
- Ingrown hair follicles
- Abrasions or razor burn
- Hemorrhoids
The amount of outbreaks someone has varies from
person to person. The average number of outbreaks per year is
four to five. The first outbreak may be the most extreme outbreak
a person will have. Usually, there are more outbreaks during the
first year. Many people find that recurrences tend to lessen in
severity and frequency with time. Illness, poor diet, emotional
or physical stress, friction, surgical trauma and steroidal medication
(such as asthma treatment) may trigger a herpes outbreak. The
frequency of outbreaks can often be managed through effective
stress management, and getting adequate rest, nutrition and exercise.
If symptoms of genital herpes appear, they can vary widely from
person to person.
If a person does experience visible symptoms, see
your doctor and obtain a culture test within the first 48 hours
after symptoms appear. Beyond 48 hours, there is a risk of receiving
a false negative test result because symptoms may have begun to
heal and there is not enough virus left on the skin to culture.
There are currently two blood tests available that
can give accurate results for herpes. Like any blood test, these
tests cannot determine whether the site of infection is oral or
genital. However, since most cases of genital herpes are caused
by HSV-2, a positive result for type-2 antibodies most likely
indicates genital herpes. For the most accurate result, it is
recommended to wait at least 12 - 16 weeks from the last possible
expose to herpes before getting an accurate blood test to allow
enough time for antibodies to develop.
These accurate tests are:
· HSV-1 and HSV-2 tests from Focus Technologies (formerly
MRL Diagnostics).
· Herpes Western blot (currently not available, only for
research)
You may have also heard about a test called the
POCkit® HSV-2 Rapid Test that can be done in a doctor's office
and provide results for type-2 in less than 10 minutes.
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