Genital herpes is a relatively common sexually transmitted disease caused by herpes simplex virus infection, which is more common in young men and women who are sexually active. It is mainly transmitted through sexual life, but also through mother-to-child transmission, indirect sexual contact, etc., which is manifested as local erosion, local itching, severe pain, painful blisters and other symptoms, which occur periodically. The dangers of genital herpes don't stop there, and if treatment is delayed, it may also affect fertility in both men and women.
What is "genital herpes"?
01
Primary genital herpes
Herpes simplex virus is mostly present in skin and mucosal lesions, semen, prostate secretions, cervix, and vaginal secretions, and can persist for a long time, mainly through sexual infection, causing primary genital herpes.
The incubation period of primary genital herpes infection is about 3~5 days, and most of its onset can be followed regularly: fever, headache, and fatigue are common symptoms, which peak in about 3 days after the appearance of local symptoms, accompanied by local burning sensation, followed by erythema.
Soon, several clusters of small blisters or pustules appear on the surface of the erythema, and after the ulceration, erosions and shallow ulcers are formed, most of which have burning and severe pain, and most patients have bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy, and most of them can heal spontaneously in about a week.
● Female patients are more likely to occur in the labia, around the anus, and in the vagina.
● Male patients usually occur in the glans, coronal sulcus, urethral opening or penile body, and can also be accompanied by pharyngeal infection, which is manifested as sore throat.
02
Recurrent genital herpes
Recurrent genital herpes tends to be mild and confined to the genitals. The pathogenesis is that after the resolution of primary genital herpes one week later, the residual herpes virus remains in the sacral ganglia along the neuraxis through peripheral nerves for a long time.
When the body's immunity is reduced or certain triggering factors such as fever, cold, infection, menstruation, gastrointestinal disorders, trauma, etc., the latent virus in the body can be activated and recur, which is the reason why genital herpes is easy to recur.
Infected people may remain contagious while they are asymptomatic and have local damage.
03
Can genital herpes trigger inflammation?
Genital herpes is a cause of inflammation.
Balanoposthitis is the inflammation caused by herpes of the male genital organs, in which the penis is flushed and there are signs of glans erosion in the early stages of the disease, but the chance of blisters is very small.
Once the blisters appear, there will be fluid oozing, and the herpes on the glans will also cause edema of the foreskin, which cannot be turned up normally, and will suppurate over time.
What are the symptoms of genital herpes?
❶ Blisters appear in multiple areas
Once a man suffers from herpes of the genital organs, blisters will appear in the area around the genital organs, which is infectious, and there is an unbearable feeling of itching.
If you scratch it with your hands, it will become erosive and eventually cause a burning sensation, and most of these parts are seen in men's foreskin, glans, urethral opening, etc.
❷ Systemic symptoms
It may also cause other symptoms of the body, such as head fever, general malaise, dizziness, etc., and over time, herpes simplex will also grow around the mouth.
❸ Fever
Herpes in the genital organs in men may cause symptoms of fever, pain, and lymphatic swelling all over the body, which is mainly caused by erosion of the herpes site, which causes inflammation.
Once you suffer from genital herpes, the possibility of recurrence will be greatly increased, so if it is a fever caused by genital herpes, it is important to pay attention to it and send it to the hospital for treatment in time.
❹ Pain in urine
Genital herpes can cause edema in the penis, causing astringent pain when urinating, and only when the herpes clears up can it return to normal.
❺ Influenza-like
Men who develop genital herpes for the first time may present with a range of flu-like symptoms, including generalized fever and lymphoma.
Therefore, when there is obvious swelling of the male genitalia, but there are no other symptoms except for cold symptoms, it should also be paid attention to, and should go to the hospital for treatment in time to avoid herpes damage and infection.
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