Herpes simplex: Signs and symptoms

    Herpes simplex: If a person has HSV-1, a bad sunburn can trigger a herpes simplex outbreak.

         Herpes simplex: Outbreaks usually develop around the mouth or on the genitals, but the sores can appear almost anywhere on the skin.

Many people who get the virus that causes herpes never see or feel anything. If signs (what you see) or symptoms (what you feel) occur, a person may experience:

• Tingling, itching, or burning: Before the blisters appear, the skin may tingle, itch, or burn for a day or so.


• Sores: One or more painful, fluid-filled blisters may appear. Blisters break open and often ooze fluid and form a crust, before healing. The first time sores appear, they will show up between 2 and 20 days after a person has contact with an infected person. The sores can last from 7 to 10 days. Where the sores appear often varies with type:
  
  
  • Oral herpes (HSV-1): Most blisters appear on the lips or around the mouth. Sometimes blisters form on the face or on the tongue. Although these are the most common places to find oral herpes, the sores can appear anywhere on the skin.
  • Genital herpes (HSV-2): Sores typically occur on the penis, vagina, buttocks, or anus. Women can have sores inside the vagina. Like oral herpes, these sores can appear anywhere on the skin.
• Flu-like symptoms. Fever, muscle aches, or swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck (oral herpes) or groin (genital herpes) are possible.
• Problems urinating. People (most often women) with genital herpes may have trouble urinating or have a burning feeling while urinating.
• An eye infection (herpes keratitis). Sometimes the herpes simplex virus can spread to one or both eyes. If this happens, you can have pain, light sensitivity, discharge, and a gritty feeling in the eye. Without prompt treatment, scarring of the eye may result. Scarring can lead to cloudy vision and even loss of vision.
  
  If you develop signs and symptoms of herpes simplex, you can expect to have these for as long as listed below:
  
  
  • Oral (mouth) herpes: 2 to 3 weeks
  • Genital herpes: 2 to 6 weeks (the first outbreak)

Learn more about herpes simplex:

• Herpes simplex
• Herpes simplex: Who gets and causes
• Herpes simplex: Diagnosis, treatment, and outcome
• Herpes simplex: Tips for managing

Images used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides. 

http://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/e---h/herpes-simplex/signs-symptoms

STD Symptoms In Men - Common Symptoms of STD's In Men

Herpes simplex: Who gets and causes

Source: nonprofitstdtesting.org

Who gets herpes simplex?

Most people get HSV-1 (herpes simplex type 1) as an infant or child. This virus can be spread by skin-to-skin contact with an adult who carries the virus. An adult does not have to have sores to spread the virus.

A child can get this virus from an infected adult. A kiss, eating from the same utensil, or sharing a towel can spread the virus.

A person usually gets HSV-2 (herpes simplex type 2) through sexual contact. About 20% of sexually active adults in the United States carry HSV-2. Some people are more likely to get HSV-2. These people:

• Are female.
• Have had many sex partners.
• Had sex for the first time at a young age.
• Have (or had) another sexually transmitted infection.
• Have a weakened immune system due to a disease or medicine.

What causes herpes simplex?

Herpes simplex viruses spread from person to person through close contact. You can get a herpes simplex virus from touching a herpes sore. Most people, however, get herpes simplex from an infected person who does not have sores. Doctors call this “asymptomatic viral shedding.”

How people get herpes around their mouthA person with HSV-1 (herpes simplex type 1) can pass it to someone else by:

• Kissing.
• Touching the person’s skin, such as pinching a child’s cheek.
• Sharing objects such as silverware, lip balm, or a razor.

How people get herpes on their genitalsYou can get genital herpes after coming into contact with HSV-1 or HSV-2. Most people get genital herpes from HSV-2, which they get during sex. If someone has a cold sore and performs oral sex, this can spread HSV-1 to the genitals — and cause herpes sores on the genitals. 

Mothers can give the herpes virus to their baby during childbirth. If the baby is born during the mother's first episode of genital herpes, the baby can have serious problems. 

What happens once you have HSV-1 or HSV-2?Once a person becomes infected with a herpes virus, the virus never leaves the body. After the first outbreak, the virus moves from the skin cells to nerve cells. The virus stays in the nerve cells forever. But it usually just stays there. In this stage, the virus is said to be dormant, or asleep. But it can become active again.

Some things that can trigger (wake up) the virus are:

• Stress.
• Illness.
• Fever.
• Sun exposure.
• Menstrual periods.
• Surgery.

Lean more about herpes simplex:

• Herpes simplex
• Herpes simplex: Signs and symptoms
• Herpes simplex: Diagnosis, treatment, and outcome
• Herpes simplex: Tips for managing

Herpes

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/health

Herpes is a common contagious viral infection that is easily spread through kissing and sex.

Herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) that cycle between periods of active disease – presenting as infectious blisters – that last 2–21 days, followed by a remission period, during which the sores disappear.

There are two types: HSV1 and HSV2. HSV1 is usually found around the lips and mouth and is commonly known as cold sores; HSV2 more typically infects the genital and anal areas although either HSV1 or HSV2 can occur on either the lips, mouth, genital or anal areas.

Herpes enters the body through the skin of the genitals, mouth and anus, or through tiny cuts and abrasions in the skin anywhere on the body and you can develop symptoms days, weeks or even months after infection or not at all.

When the blisters occur they become itchy then burst to become painful ulcers that then heal by themselves about a week after the outbreak. Some people may only ever have one outbreak of symptoms, while other people have outbreaks throughout the remainder of their lives.

A doctor will either diagnose you through observing the blisters or through a blood test.

There is no cure, you will have herpes for life, but there are anti-viral drugs and ointments that help reduce the severity of outbreaks. Keeping the area dry, bathing ulcers salt water and taking paracetamol for the pain helps too.