Genital herpes outbreaks are divided into two types of outbreaks, the initial or first outbreak and recurrent outbreaks. Whatever infection you may suffer from, the triggers are generally the same. Different triggers however trigger different people, and cannot be avoided.
These triggers include emotional or physical stress, menstrual cycle, injury, sunlight, sexual intercourse, surgical trauma, other infections, a poor diet and even steroidal medication like asthma medication.
First genital herpes outbreak
This infection obviously occurs in people who have never been exposed to the herpes simplex virus (HSV) virus before. The symptoms are most severe here as the patient does not have any immunity to the herpes virus and cannot fight the infection.
During the first infection, your body responds by attacking the virus using antibodies. Consequently, some immune cells and antibodies in the body learn to keep the virus in control. However as the body's antibodies don't always completely eliminate the virus, once a person gets infected with genital herpes, the virus remains in their body for life.
While the first outbreak is the most severe, the consequent outbreaks give milder symptoms as the body develops the antibodies to fight the disease. In fact, after several yeas, you have fewer or even no outbreaks at all.
The infection
Once you get infected with the virus, most people develop symptoms within 10 days time. However in some cases, it may take weeks, months and even years for symptoms to appear. This is why it is not possible to know how, where and from whom you contract the disease as some people suffer from mild symptoms, some don't know they have the virus in the body and some others, have severe outbreaks.
The symptoms you may experience during an initial genital herpes outbreak are a sick feeling like having a flue, with fever, muscles ache and pain. Genital herpes sores tend to develop more in an initial infection, especially in women. These sores range in size, and appear in various places including the mouth, thighs, buttocks and anal region.
In addition to all this, the skin in affected regions becomes raw, painful and itchy with lots of swelling. There may also be swelling in the lymph nodes of groin region as the body immune system fights the virus. As the cervix is usually infected in women, there may be some vaginal discharge. Then again, there is a chance of one suffering from genital herpes, without any symptoms at all.
The initial outbreak is best treated using Famvir. However in consequent outbreaks, it is best taken when the first symptoms are seen.
Recurrent genital herpes outbreaks
After going through an initial outbreak, there is always a chance of suffering from recurrent outbreaks. These outbreaks are maximum in the first year of contracting the disease, but tend to decrease in frequency and severity with time.
Those who get more than 6 outbreaks a year should undergo suppressive genital herpes treatment while those who suffer from less than 6 outbreaks in a year are comfortable with episodic treatment of antivirals. However do remember that though there may be no symptoms of genital herpes in between outbreaks, the virus still exists inactive in the nerves at the base of your spine, and is contagious.
These triggers include emotional or physical stress, menstrual cycle, injury, sunlight, sexual intercourse, surgical trauma, other infections, a poor diet and even steroidal medication like asthma medication.
First genital herpes outbreak
This infection obviously occurs in people who have never been exposed to the herpes simplex virus (HSV) virus before. The symptoms are most severe here as the patient does not have any immunity to the herpes virus and cannot fight the infection.
During the first infection, your body responds by attacking the virus using antibodies. Consequently, some immune cells and antibodies in the body learn to keep the virus in control. However as the body's antibodies don't always completely eliminate the virus, once a person gets infected with genital herpes, the virus remains in their body for life.
While the first outbreak is the most severe, the consequent outbreaks give milder symptoms as the body develops the antibodies to fight the disease. In fact, after several yeas, you have fewer or even no outbreaks at all.
The infection
Once you get infected with the virus, most people develop symptoms within 10 days time. However in some cases, it may take weeks, months and even years for symptoms to appear. This is why it is not possible to know how, where and from whom you contract the disease as some people suffer from mild symptoms, some don't know they have the virus in the body and some others, have severe outbreaks.
The symptoms you may experience during an initial genital herpes outbreak are a sick feeling like having a flue, with fever, muscles ache and pain. Genital herpes sores tend to develop more in an initial infection, especially in women. These sores range in size, and appear in various places including the mouth, thighs, buttocks and anal region.
In addition to all this, the skin in affected regions becomes raw, painful and itchy with lots of swelling. There may also be swelling in the lymph nodes of groin region as the body immune system fights the virus. As the cervix is usually infected in women, there may be some vaginal discharge. Then again, there is a chance of one suffering from genital herpes, without any symptoms at all.
The initial outbreak is best treated using Famvir. However in consequent outbreaks, it is best taken when the first symptoms are seen.
Recurrent genital herpes outbreaks
After going through an initial outbreak, there is always a chance of suffering from recurrent outbreaks. These outbreaks are maximum in the first year of contracting the disease, but tend to decrease in frequency and severity with time.
Those who get more than 6 outbreaks a year should undergo suppressive genital herpes treatment while those who suffer from less than 6 outbreaks in a year are comfortable with episodic treatment of antivirals. However do remember that though there may be no symptoms of genital herpes in between outbreaks, the virus still exists inactive in the nerves at the base of your spine, and is contagious.
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