About this topic
Genital herpes is a sexually-transmitted disease or STD. It is caused by an infection. Patients have small, painful blisters. They are filled with fluid and they come back. These blisters break and leave an open sore around your genital area. This illness is spread from one person to another during sexual activity. ‚
If you are infected, the virus remains in your body. Drugs may be used to help control signs. They may also shorten an outbreak and reduce discomfort. The first outbreak takes 2 to 4 weeks to heal. Later attacks are often less severe. There is no cure for this illness. Treatment will help to reduce your signs. It may also lower the number of attacks you have and prevent the spread of infection to others. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Talk to your doctor about telling your recent and future sex partners about your infection. Ask about ways to protect them from getting infected.
- Avoid sexual contact until treatment is finished and the doctor says you will not spread the infection to anyone else.
- Take lukewarm baths. Sit in a warm bath 3 to 4 times a day. This may help ease itching and pain. Do not rub the area. Instead, pat the area dry with a clean towel.
- Apply cool cloths on blisters or sores for comfort. Wash your hands before and after touching them.
- Wear loose-fitting underwear to help the sore dry out. Do not wear nylon, or other synthetic pantyhose, underwear, or pants.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- You may want to join a support group. Getting help and support may help you deal with your infection. Talking with others who have the same infection may help you feel better.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and discomfort
- Treat herpes infection
Will physical activity be limited?
Physical activity may not be limited. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Pregnant women may pass the infection to their baby at birth. There is a higher risk of premature delivery with the disease. It may also cause serious problems to your newborn baby such as brain damage and eye problems. If you have an outbreak near the time of delivery, you will have to deliver by Cesarean section. This is to lower the chance of your baby getting infected.
- The herpes virus does not go away. Your signs may come back. The infection may also spread to your brain, eyes, liver, spinal cord, or lungs. Once you have one STD, you are more likely to get others.
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- The only sure way to keep from getting or passing on a sexually-transmitted infection is to not have sexual contact with anyone. This infection may be spread even if you do not have any signs of illness.
- Avoid contact with sex partners who have the disease.
- Practice safe sex. Use latex condoms to reduce spread of infection.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- You think you are pregnant. Tell the doctor right away.
- Very bad reaction when you take the drug. This include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat. Go to the ER right away.
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, a wound that will not heal, anal itching or pain.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the wound.
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what I can do to help avoid passing the infection to others.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever, chills, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or think I might be pregnant.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Dermatology ‚
http://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/e---h/herpes-simplex ‚
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes.htm ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚