Symptoms
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- The
First Episode
When a person is
first infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2 the
immune system is not well developed and
the virus can multiply more quickly and
spread to more places than it might later.
First symptoms can be uncomfortable and
usually happen within two weeks after the
virus is transmitted. However, some
people have a first episode so mild they
don't notice it. Some people have no
symptoms. When a symptom does occur, it
could be a later episode or "reactivation"--noticed
months or years later.
First
Episodes:
- Can
take 4-6 weeks to heal fully
- May
be the most extreme outbreak a
person will ever have
- May
cause small pimples or blisters (lesions),
which will crust over and scab
like a cut
- Can
have a second crop of lesions
that appear
- May
cause flu-like symptoms: fever,
swollen glands in lymph nodes
near groin
- Vary
with each person: may be obvious
or hard to see, painful or
unrecognized
- Frequent
Genital Herpes Symptoms
Signs and
symptoms will vary person by person, and
from one episode to the next. Some people
who have latent herpes infection never
experience signs or symptoms. Some people
have such mild symptoms that they may not
recognize the infection for many years.
For others, outbreaks can be repeated
often and cause extreme discomfort. These
are some common signs of recurrent
outbreaks.
Recurrent
Outbreaks:
- Breaks
or irregularities in the skin,
such as a cut, red bump or rash
- Small
sores or classic blisters that
form a crust
- May
occur anywhere in the region
between the legs--thigh,
buttocks, anus, or pubis
- Healing
occurs in half the time as the
first outbreak
- Genital
Herpes WITHOUT Symptoms? Yes
Researchers have
learned that the herpes virus can become
active without causing signs or symptoms.
This is called "asymptomatic
shedding" and "subclinical"
shedding. Another term is simply "unrecognized"
herpes. Even people who know they have
recurring outbreaks also can have
outbreaks that are unrecognized--and not
be aware that the virus has reactivated.
Unrecognized
herpes is important because:
- Some
lesions are unnoticed because
they occur in spots we never
look;
- Some
lesions are mistaken for
something else--such as an
ingrown hair; and
- Some
lesions are so small they can't
be seen with the human eye.
- Mistaken
Symptoms
Many people can have very
subtle forms of recurring herpes that
heal quickly, in a matter of days. These
can be found on the penis, vulva, near
the anus, on the thigh, on the buttocks--anywhere
in or around the genital area. People
mistake herpes outbreaks for:
- Insect
bites
- Jock
itch
- Abrasions
or razor burn
- Yeast
infections
- Hemorrhoids
- Ingrown
hair follicles
- Warning
Signs: Prodrome
In the early
phase of a recurring episode, many people
feel an itching, tingling or painful
feeling in the area where the lesions
will develop. This can include pain in
the buttocks, back of legs or even lower
back. The prodrome often happens a day or
two before an outbreak.
- How
Often Does a Herpes Episode Occur and
Why?
How often a person gets a
herpes outbreak depends upon the HSV type
and how long the infection has resided in
the body. Herpes triggers are poorly
understood by scientists and appear to be
highly individual. Research shows that
lengthy exposure to strong sunlight can
trigger oral herpes. Triggers for genital
herpes include surgical trauma and
excessive friction in the genital area.
With time, people begin to recognize what
will trigger an outbreak in their own
bodies.
HSV-2:
People who have a strong first episode
usually can expect to have several
recurrences a year with typical symptoms.
The average number of recurrences or
outbreaks is four to five. People with
HSV-2 can also expect to have
unrecognized outbreaks. These
unrecognized outbreaks probably occur
less often than symptomatic outbreaks,
but account for about one-third of all
reactivation. Usually, the first year has
the most viral activity.
HSV-1:
With type 1 infection, people may have a
marked first episode in the genital area,
but they are much less likely to have
outbreaks in the first year. Recurrences
are usually once a year and the rates of
unrecognized herpes reactivation are
lower, too.
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