Herpes Symptoms and Treatments - Comprehensive Guide

Know Everything About Herpes Symptoms and Treatments

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) can lead to the development of genital, oral, or other forms of herpes. The most common symptoms of herpes infection are fluid-filled blisters on the skin. However, there are many cases in which carriers of HSV infection do not exhibit any herpes symptoms. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding early herpes symptoms, their causes, necessary treatment, and how to mitigate the chances of infection.

What is Herpes?

Herpes is a type of viral infection caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). It leads to painful blisters and lesions around the mouth or genitals of the patient. It is contagious and spreads through skin-to-skin contact.

These sores carry fluid that often breaks open and forms a crusty layer in the area of infection, a herpes outbreak. Even if such an infection subsides, HSV tends to reside in the body unless something triggers it again, leading to an outbreak.

What are the Types of Herpes Simplex Virus?

Herpes Simplex Virus is of two types, namely HSV-1 and HSV-1. Let us know about them further:

● Type 1

This virus causes oral herpes and usually spreads through oral contact. The symptoms of oral herpes are infection around the mouth and oral region in the person suffering from it.

● Type 2

This type of virus causes genital herpes, which spreads due to sexual contact between two people. Genital herpes early symptoms are often prominent in the form of lesions, bumps, or open sores (ulcers) around the genitals or anal region.

What are the Early Stage Herpes Symptoms?

When a person experiences herpes episodes, they have lesions, soreness and other early herpes symptoms. Here are the early-stage signs of herpes:

● Pain and itching

● Having a high body temperature

● Feeling lethargic and fatigue

● Swollen lymph nodes

What are Oral Herpes Symptoms?

Most patients suffering from HSV-1 herpes symptoms do not experience extreme pain. The early stage herpes symptoms of HSV-1 include blisters and sores around the mouth and lips, which are known as cold sores or fever blisters. Such sores might also develop inside the mouth but are usually seen in the early stages.

Cold sores last only a week and usually heal themselves. However, they are likely to come back within weeks, months, or years. These cold sores are harmless in kids as well as adults. However, a medical expert must be consulted immediately if an infant develops blisters.

What are Genital Herpes Symptoms in Women?

Genital herpes is caused due to HSV-2, which is typically transmitted due to anal, vaginal, or oral sex. As per WHO, women are more susceptible to getting HSV-2 than men. Herpes symptoms might be mild or may be asymptomatic in some people. In such cases, the virus spreads around without being detected.

As per WHO, genital herpes symptoms in women tend to take around 2-12 days to show up. The first symptoms will be visible in the region where HSV-2 entered the body.

Following are anal herpes symptoms in women that might last for 2 to 4 weeks:

● Symptoms similar to flu such as fever

● Pain in specific areas like legs, anal, and genital

● Swollen glands

● Unusual gooey discharge from the vagina

● Burning sensation and itching in the genital area

The lesions in the body resemble an insect bite or small pimples. The genital herpes women symptoms will appear in the following areas:

● in or around the vagina

● thighs

● anus

● cervix

● urinary tract

● around the mouth and lips

● buttocks

Even though HSV-2 herpes initial symptoms develop within a couple of weeks, it might take months or even a year for the person to experience the next episode.

What are Genital Herpes Symptoms in Men?

Similar to herpes symptoms in women, most cases of herpes do not show symptoms, due to which the condition keeps spreading without anyone noticing.

Male genital herpes symptoms include:

● Experiencing tingling sensation in genital areas such as buttocks, thighs, anus, scrotum or penis.

● Developing bumpy skin around the genital area that turns into lesions or small blisters.

● Swelling of body parts such as the groin, neck, or under the arms, as well as muscle aches

● and issues while passing urine.

What are Other Herpes Symptoms?

The other types of herpes simplex symptoms contain the following:

1. HSV Encephalitis: This is a serious condition which leads to brain inflammation along with other neurological issues and might be fatal. Herpes simplex virus symptoms for this condition are fever, focal seizure, and noticeable changes in either the behaviour or speech.

2. Herpes Meningitis: This is caused by HSV-2 and is responsible for inflammation around the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Under these herpes infection symptoms, the patient develops sensitivity to light, headache, and fever.

3. Herpes Keratitis (Eye Herpes): This is an eye condition caused by HSV-1, which leads to corneal inflammation. If no treatment is given, the herpes symptoms might cause loss of vision. Irritation in the eye, along with pain, sensitivity to light, and blisters around the eyes, are some of the common herpes keratitis symptoms.

4. Herpetic Whitlow: In this condition, the patient develops a painful infection on their fingertips. It spreads directly through contact. Patients might see swelling around nails, discolouration of skin around nails, or blisters on fingernails. These are whitlow herpes infection symptoms.

5. Herpes Gladiatorum: HSV-1 causes this infection. This is the only type that exhibits herpes on face symptoms such as forming blisters on hands, face, ears, or chest.

What Causes Herpes?

Herpes infection spreads through bodily fluids and human contact. The transmission of the virus is done in different ways. The virus does not require any prominent herpes symptoms for it to spread to other persons:

1. Oral Herpes (HSV-1)

Most carriers of this virus have been infected during childhood or as infants. These carriers spread the virus through:

● Through skin-to-skin contact with someone who is a carrier

● Use personal items of a carrier such as cutlery, lip balm, or a toothbrush.

2. Genital Herpes (HSV-2)

The most common way of genital herpes transmission is through sexual intercourse. HSV-1 type virus might also lead to transmission of genital herpes through saliva during oral sex. Moreover, a carrier might transmit HSV-2 virus to an infant during labour.

These viruses enter the body's nerve cells. They tend to lie dormant in these nerve cells without displaying any herpes symptoms unless something triggers them.

Such factors that trigger herpes symptoms outbreak are as follows:

● Illness

● Mensuration

● Exposure to sun

● Emotional stress

● Surgery

● Fever

How is HSV Transmitted?

Let us discuss in detail some other modes of transmission and how it spreads from one person to another:

● Oral-to-Genital Contact: HSV spreads from a carrier’s mouth to another person’s genital area, causing genital herpes.

● Genital-to-Oral Contact: Transmission of HSV takes place from the carrier's genitals to another person’s mouth, leading to oral herpes.

● Skin-to-Sore Contact: This is the least common way of HSV transmission. The virus spreads by touching an oral or genital lesion or any other infected area.

What is the Diagnosis Process for Herpes?

Medical experts often diagnose HSV infection in a particular manner:

● The procedure begins with the expert looking for signs of infection, such as blisters or sores.

● They take a sample from the sore for lab testing. Moreover, if experts suspect signs and symptoms of herpes simplex encephalitis and/or meningitis, they might proceed with a spinal tap.

● In instances with no visible sores, they will conduct a blood test to check for antibodies against HSV-1 or HSV-2.

● Once the results of these tests arrive, the medical expert will be able to provide an effective plan.

What are the Treatments for Herpes Simplex Symptoms?

The main treatment for herpes simplex's causes and symptoms is prescription-based antiviral medications. These come in various forms, such as pills, ointment, intravenous medication (i.e. through IV), and eye drops in case of herpes simplex keratitis symptoms.

Another popular form of treatment is Episodic Therapy, which targets treating a single episode of herpes outbreak. Medical experts recommend antiviral medication for noticing early-stage herpes symptoms.

Experts resort to chronic suppression therapy to treat genital herpes's initial symptoms by prescribing long-term antiviral medication.

What are Preventative Measures for Herpes?

By taking some conscious steps, one can mitigate the probability of getting an infection:

● Avoid coming in contact with someone who is having HSV episodes, such as engaging in a sexual act with someone who has cold sores or genital sores.

● Partners must test for STI (Sexually transmitted infections), specifically herpes. However, symptoms highlight the presence of an outbreak. However, instances of asymptomatic herpes are common as well.

● Always use protection (such as dental dams and condoms) during sexual intercourse. This step will significantly lower the risk of infection and spreading the virus.

Final Word

HSV is a virus that might never exhibit skin herpes symptoms after sneakily entering the host body. Since it resides hidden in the cells, it is capable of damaging uncommon areas and regions. However, with the help of antiviral medication, one can manage timely treatment of herpes symptoms.