Herpes

Genital herpes is a disease caused by a virus.

Symptoms

• Stinging, itching and pain in the genitals.

• Reddish cysts (warts), which burst and hurt.
  
  

Diagnosis

Herpes is usually easy to identify. Often the symptoms are so typical that the doctor can identify them on sight. In less clear cases a sample can be taken from the wart or wound with a swab to examine the virus. Particularly in cases where herpes symptoms have been present for a few days, the virus may not necessarily be detected.

If a strong suspicion of herpes remains, however, then analysis should be carried out as soon as possible when symptoms reappear.

Herpes infections also leave antibodies in the blood, which can be measured. However this does not mean that the location of the herpes infection can be identified, because it could be either mouth or genital herpes.

Treatment

There is no cure for herpes, but current virus treatment can prevent its spread. The treatment aims to shorten the duration of the symptoms, speed up recovery and prevent re-infection. If symptoms are mild and don't last long, medical treatment may not be necessary.