Genital herpes is the most common sexually transmitted disease caused by the Herpes simplex virus (HSV).
There are 2 types of herpes simplex virus (HSV): HSV type 1 (HSV-1) which often affects the mouth and lips, and HSV type 2 (HSV-2) which usually causes genital herpes. It is transmitted by vaginal, anal or oral sexual contact with someone who is infected. After the initial infection, the virus remains inactive in the body and can reactivate over time. An infected person can be contagious even if there are no visible lesions; mothers can infect their babies during childbirth.
Symptoms appear in outbreaks. Genital herpes can cause pain, itching and sores in the genital area. The sores are blisters that break and become painful, and usually appear near the area where the virus entered the body. Sometimes people do not know they have herpes because they have no symptoms or very mild symptoms. In the first outbreak, which is usually more severe, systemic symptoms such as fever and general malaise may also appear.
Diagnosis is obtained by detailed clinical history, physical examination and by culturing a sample of the lesion. It can be diagnosed by determination of antibodies against the virus.
Although there is no cure, pain should be treated with analgesics, and by applying cold compresses to the sores. Antiretroviral treatment with Acyclovir can help decrease the severity/duration of symptoms, reduce the frequency of recurrence and minimize transmission. Condoms help prevent the spread of a genital herpes infection.
- Mary A Albrecht. Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus infection. UpToDate. Feb 29, 2016.
- Bernstein DI, Bellamy AR, Hook EW 3rd, et al. Epidemiology, clinical presentation, and antibody response to primary infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in young women. Clin Infect Dis 2013; 56:344.
- Bradley H, Markowitz LE, Gibson T, McQuillan GM. Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2--United States, 1999-2010. J Infect Dis 2014; 209:325.
- Workowski KA, Bolan GA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2015. MMWR Recomm Rep 2015; 64:1.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 among persons aged 14-49 years--United States, 2005-2008. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2010; 59:456.
- Corey L.Virus del herpes simple. Harrison. Manual de Medicina. 16º edición. 553-562.
- Herpes Simplex Virus: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Cole S. Nurs Clin North Am. 2020 Sep;55(3):337-345. doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2020.05.004. Epub 2020 Jul 15.
- Genital ulcers caused by herpes simplex virus. Parra-Sánchez M. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin (Engl Ed). 2019 Apr;37(4):260-264. doi: 10.1016/j.eimc.2018.10.020. Epub 2018 Dec
21. - Genital Herpes: Insights into Sexually Transmitted Infectious Disease. Jaishankar D,Shukla D. Microb Cell. 2016 Jun 27;3(9):438-450. doi: 10.15698/mic2016.09.528.
