Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. It is a very common disease -- around 50 million people living in the United States have genital herpes. It is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are basically two types of herpes viruses that can cause herpes. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) mainly causes oral herpes (cold sores). Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) tragically causes genital herpes.
Ordinarily HSV-1 causes most of the oral herpes cases and HSV-2 causes most of the genital herpes cases, either of these viruses can cause either oral herpes, or genital herpes.
Once a person gets the genital herpes virus, it stays in their body for life.
What occurs if and when someone has an outbreak of the genital herpes virus?
With recurrent genital herpes, symptoms can soon come and go. When the herpes virus symptoms appear from time to time, it is called a "herpes outbreak." Between outbreaks, when the virus is not present on the skin surface, the herpes virus is inactive and when reactivated, it travels to the skin in the genital area. An outbreak usually begins with a warning prodrome. Then, redness, bumps, and blisters may appear. The blisters can burst open and cause sores. There may be just one red, itchy blister or several.
What is a sign of a coming herpes outbreak?
A prodrome is the first stage of an outbreak when you feel symptoms such as pain, burning, itching, tingling, or tenderness. Remember, this is the time to start treatment if you are treating episodically. - 15431
Ordinarily HSV-1 causes most of the oral herpes cases and HSV-2 causes most of the genital herpes cases, either of these viruses can cause either oral herpes, or genital herpes.
Once a person gets the genital herpes virus, it stays in their body for life.
What occurs if and when someone has an outbreak of the genital herpes virus?
With recurrent genital herpes, symptoms can soon come and go. When the herpes virus symptoms appear from time to time, it is called a "herpes outbreak." Between outbreaks, when the virus is not present on the skin surface, the herpes virus is inactive and when reactivated, it travels to the skin in the genital area. An outbreak usually begins with a warning prodrome. Then, redness, bumps, and blisters may appear. The blisters can burst open and cause sores. There may be just one red, itchy blister or several.
What is a sign of a coming herpes outbreak?
A prodrome is the first stage of an outbreak when you feel symptoms such as pain, burning, itching, tingling, or tenderness. Remember, this is the time to start treatment if you are treating episodically. - 15431
