Genital herpes is a condition that manifests when the herpes simplex virus or HSV enters the body through some direct contact with herpes sores, sexually or otherwise. The fatality is that the condition cannot be cured and hence, once the virus enters the body, it remains there for a whole lifetime. There are a number of people who do not even develop symptoms. The ignorance results in them remaining unaware of the presence of this virus.
Genital Herpes : Symptoms
Flu like symptoms are accompanied by blisters around the genitals and/or anus, during the incubation period. When the blisters break they convert to painful, oozing sores that take nothing less than 3 weeks to cure (without treatment). The herpes simplex virus remains dormant in the nerve cells, without the manifestation of symptoms. The virus becomes active recurrently, causing the onslaught of the blisters and sores, with or without trigger factors such as stress, change of sex partners and/or menstruation. The tingling, burning and numbness, also referred to as prodrome, is absolutely unmistakable. The clusters of genital sores are very painful. Each cluster comprises papules and vesicles that are inflamed. In the case of males, the lesions occur on the penis shaft or surrounding genital region or anus.
Treatment Options for Genital Herpes :
The main goal of the treatment options, designed to treat the onslaught of genital herpes, is to reduce the discomfort caused by the sores and heal an outbreak within the least amount of time. Initial treatment involves the administration of antiviral medication. These include acyclovir, famciclovir or valacyclovir components. The non-prescription drugs suggested for the treatment of genital herpes include ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen, to reduce the pain and fever.
Alternative remedies include:
- Taking warm sitz baths.
- Wearing only cotton underwear, to promote healing.
- Avoiding any sexual contact.
- Topical application of acyclovir or Zovirax ointment.