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For millions of Americans, gential herpes is the silent illness they face on a regular basis. Herpes, for short, is one of the more common sexually transmitted diseases people are living with. The illness is highly contagious, meaning it spreads just from contact with a person who has the illness intimately. For anyone who has this illness, it is important to be on medications that will limit the ability of the illness to move from person to person, and it reduces the incredibly painful symptoms.
The cause of herpes in this form is a virus strain called HSV, or the herpes simplex virus. This virus spreads from one person to the next by very small breaks in the skin and the mucous membranes. The most common way to spread it is through sexual encounters. The illness affects both men and women. The illness is relatively common in terms of sexually transmitted illnesses. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) the estimate is that one in six teenagers and adults within the United States have the illness. Many of them do not realize they have it, which makes the spread of the illness even more likely.
The symptoms of the herpes illness can be fleeting. In fact, the CDC estimates that most people who have the illness do not know it because they have very few if any symptoms of it. The HSV does not have to be active, even after it moves from person to person as it will lie dormant. For other people, the symptoms are very mild, often going unnoticed. Others will have outbreaks of the illness frequently. Because there is no cure for the condition, the patient is likely to go through times of inflammation called an outbreak, and times when the virus is dormant, or not as active.
Outbreaks do happen from time to time, though the span of time between them can vary. In most situations, the first outbreak is the worst. These symptoms may include pain and itching in the genital area of the body, as well as the inner thighs and buttocks. The trademark of the illness are the small, red bumps that present themselves. The bumps move through a progression of change, starting as small, red bumps that move to blisters which break open. They then become open sores or ulcers until they heal over. They may also be accompanied by pain, fever, and cold like symptoms.
For some people, after the initial outbreak, the second outbreak won't happen for decades. For others, it will happen a few times per year. Stress can cause it to happen more often because the body's immune system is weaker.
Those suffering from herpes should talk to their doctor as medications can be used to stop the onslaught of outbreaks. Medications also can help reduce the risk of passing the illness on. Those who have treatment are able to effectively manage their illness and can lead a long and healthy life around it. Doctor help is often the best place to get help.
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