Symptoms: Painful ulcer in the genital area.
Complications: Frequent recurrences of genital herpes, making it painful and uncomfortable to have sex. In addition, the disease can spread from a pregnant mother to the fetus, causing brain, skin, or respiratory damage to the baby. Pregnant mothers, if having herpes at delivery, should undergo caesarean section and must not have a normal delivery.
Diagnosis and treatment: Diagnosis of herpes is usually based on a patient's medical history and a clinical examination by a physician or midwife. Existing treatments will not remove the virus, but will shorten the wound's duration, so antiviral medications are recommended in the initial infection or each time the disease returns. The sooner the medication begins after symptoms appear, the faster the recovery will be. Therefore, patients who have had recurrent herpes several times and who know their symptoms well, may be given medication to take as soon as the symptoms begin. Herpes treatment is oral; so medications such as creams or ointments do not affect the wound. Patients with recurrent herpes more than 6 times a year may be prescribed medication to prevent recurrence.
Although the sex partner of the person infected with herpes should be examined for STIs, co-treatment is not necessary if there is no evidence of STIs.