Genital Herpes And How To Diagnose It

Most people who have genital herpes don’t even know that they have it. Since it can be passed from person to person even if there are no visible lesions, this is becoming an increasingly alarming problem.

It’s important to recognize the symptoms of genital herpes and to seek medical attention and medical advice as soon as you suspect you have genital herpes.

It’s important that you not take the chance of passing genital herpes onto your sexual partner

Even though genital herpes is not life threatening, it can have rather severe and uncomfortable complications. This, mixed with the psychological aspect of it and society’s avoidance of people who are infected with genital herpes, makes for a very bad and embarrassing combination.

Often times, patients are misdiagnosed with another infection, which leads to improper treatment. If a pregnant woman becomes infect with genital herpes, especially during the third trimester, she is at an increased risk of transmitting it to her newborn. Neonatal herpes is a life-threatening infection which is associated with severe morbidity.

Open lesions present a portal of entry for the HIV virus. HSV infection can allow HIV replication in cells previously immune to HIV.

Genital herpes can be diagnosed clinically, by culture and by serology. Often times, patients are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. In cases such as this, clinical diagnosis can be extremely difficult.

The most reliable diagnosis for most patients is an antibody test that is specific and sensitive for HSV-2 antibodies in serum. Such tests are new and are major improvements over older assays, which did not distinguish between past HSV-1 and past HSV-2.

Symptoms of genital herpes can affect any of the following places on the body:

•    Penis
•    Scrotum
•    Vulva
•    Vagina
•    Anus
•    Urethra
•    Thighs
•    Buttocks

Often times, people who suffer from genital herpes don’t experience symptoms. Whatever they do experience is often confused with other medical issues such as:

•    A vaginal yeast infection
•    Jock itch
•    Insect bites
•    Hemorrhoids
•    An ingrown hair

Often times, symptoms experienced with genital herpes are:

•    swollen lymph glands in the groin
•    headaches
•    muscle aches
•    fever
•    lower back pain

Women may also experience vaginal discharge as a symptom of genital herpes along with a burning or painful sensation while urinating. Approximately 25 % of women will develop meningitis as a complication of their first herpes outbreak while another 10 % to 15 % will have trouble urinating because of their herpes.

If you’re experience any of the above symptoms, it’s very important that you seek medical attention right away.

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Genital Herpes And How To Diagnose It

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