Course of the disease

Depending on the origin of the genital herpes, two different courses can be roughly determined: When affected persons come into contact with the herpes virus for the very first time in their lives, a so-called “primary infection” or initial infection manifests itself. In about 50% of cases, this happens unnoticed and those affected do not show any symptoms. With a symptomatic initial infection, however, the first symptoms usually appear 2-12 days after contact with the virus.

Patients report severe pain and the appearance of small blisters, usually grouped together, on reddened mucous membranes in the genital and anal areas. Sometimes the cervix or urethra can also be affected. In the course of the disease, problems with urination or even bloody urine are possible.

In addition to the local skin changes, general feelings of illness can occur especially at the beginning of an initial infection with genital herpes: Women in particular suffer from fever, fatigue, headaches, swollen and painful lymph nodes etc. during the first 3-4 days. In total, the primary infection lasts about 2-3 weeks, with an average of 11 days of high risk of infection with distinct, purulent blisters.

A recurring infection with genital herpes is called reactivation or recurrence. Just like the initial infection, recurrent genital herpes can occur with or without symptoms. However, the virus can be transmitted even during the symptom-free phases!

Generally, recurrent genital herpes infections are usually shorter and milder.

The primary infection and the
Reactivation.

The diagnosis is usually a gaze diagnosis made either by a general practitioner, urologist or gynecologist.The typical skin changes, such as redness, lifting, blistering and crust formation, usually clearly indicate a genital herpes infection and leave little room for another infectious disease. A patient survey to find out whether burning and itching have occurred and how often a change of partner has occurred in recent months and years rounds off the diagnosis of a genital herpes infection.

In cases where it is not possible to diagnose the infection by means of a gaze diagnosis, a smear can be taken from the skin area and sent to a microbiological laboratory. There it is possible to diagnose a herpes virus infection by means of complex immunological tests and also to make a distinction between a herpes genitalis infection and a herpes genitalis infection. In addition, it is important to check whether a pregnancy is present in affected women, since the infectious herpes viruses are quickly transmitted to the child’s organism during the birth process and can cause serious infections. In this case, a birth must be planned carefully and a corresponding caesarean section with special protective precautions must be planned. Furthermore, patients with a genital herpes infection must be treated with immediate medication.