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Full Name Herpes Simplex Virus I and Herpes Simplex Virus II. HSV-I is most often associated with cold sores or fever blisters around the mouth and lips, while HSV-II is associated with sores around the genital area. There is some crossover, however, and each virus will survive quite comfortably in both regions. Symptoms Herpes is marked by clusters of small, painful blisters on the genitals. After a few days, the blisters burst, leaving small ulcers. In men, the blisters usually appear on the penis, but can appear in the urethra or rectum. In women, they usually appear on the labia, but can appear on the cervix and anal area. First outbreaks are accompanied by fever, headache, and muscle soreness for two or more consecutive days. Other relatively common symptoms include painful urination, discharge from the urethra or vagina and tender, swollen lymph nodes in the groin. These symptoms tend to disappear within two weeks. Aseptic meningitis occurs in 8 percent of cases, eye infections in 1% of cases, and infection of the cervix in 88% of infected women. Skin lesions last on average 16.5 days in men, 19.7 in women. Secondary symptoms are most prominent in the first four days and then gradually diminish. Recurrence None in 10% of cases. Frequency for the remaining population is from once a month to once every few years. The majority of sufferers do not have repeat attacks after a few years and when they do occur, most repeat attacks are less severe than the initial attack. Treatment There is no medical cure for herpes. Treatment with recent anti-viral drugs reduces pain and viral reproduction during outbreaks of sores, although it will not delay or prevent recurrences. Transmission Generally by sexual contact. Herpes viruses can be spread in some instances by kissing, if one participant has the infection sited in or near the mouth. - - Read more about Genital Herpes - -
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