Genital Herpes Research Paper

1103 Words3 Pages

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Herpes causes sores, which are really painful fluid filled bumps that can break open and can cause bleeding. There are 2 types of herpes; HSV-1 & HSV-2. Herpes simplex virus(HSV) is easily transmitted and is highly contagious. According to article “Genital warts and genital herpes: a public health perspective.” by Edwards M., nearly 80% of people who are infected are unaware of the viral takeover of their immune system. The virus can be activated at any time, causing an outbreak of herpes. Herpes can be transmitted physical and through other bodily fluids.
For HSV-1, herpes is most commonly transmitted by kissing or sharing drinks or utensils, but can also be contracted from a partner who has genital herpes during oral sex. Upon entering a cell, the infection does not cause any symptoms. A person who displays flu-like symptoms with HSV is highly infectious. If the virus destroys the host cell during replication, sores or blisters filled with fluid appear. Scabs form over the sores or blisters once the fluid is absorbed, then …show more content…

There is no cure for HSV, but symptoms can be controlled using oral antiviral medicines such as aciclovir, famciclovir and valaciclovir.These drugs can reduce the severity of the disease if taken within 5 days of the start of the infection. After the first attack, the virus lays dormant in the ganglia and the patient can have milder recurrent infections that may or may not need treatment. The blisters and sores that are experienced during a first HSV infection can take 2-4 weeks to heal. In most cases genital herpes is a long-term condition. Many people with HSV have four or five recurrent infections in the first 2 years after the initial infection). Recurrent infections are usually milder, with fewer, smaller and less painful sores that heal more quickly, often within 10

More about Genital Herpes Research Paper

Open Document