2023-04-24 13:15:20
24 avril 2023
Herpes, when it appears on the genital area, is a sexually transmitted infection. It is indeed transmitted by sexual intercourse genital but also bucco-genital. Explanations.
A large majority of the population carries the virus.herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1), which primarily causes cold sores, around the mouth or nose. But in the family of herpes viruses, there is also HSV-2, the main culprits of genital herpes. It should be noted that“however, it is not uncommon to find HSV-1 in the genitals due to orogenital contact”, specifies the French Society of Microbiology.
How is it transmitted?
Very contagious, these two viruses are transmitted by direct and intimate contact between two people.. “There is therefore no risk of indirect transmission in swimming pools, saunas or through the toilet seat”, notes the Health Insurance on its site ameli.fr. “In rare cases, a mother can transmit HSV-1 genital herpes to the newborn during childbirth,” says the World Health Organization.
Once transmitted, the virus “travels in the sensory nerves corresponding to the infected territory and lodges in a nerve ganglion where it remains ‘asleep'”, explains Medicare. Once infected, you remain a lifelong carrier of this virus, which remains latent and sometimes reactivates, in the form of an outbreak. During these outbreaks, the virus is manifested by vesicular or ulcerative genital or anal lesions. And during the primary infection, that is to say the very first push following contamination, fever, body aches and swelling of the lymph nodes can be added to the localized symptoms.
If there is no treatment to cure genital herpes, it is possible to administer an oral antiviral such as acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir to reduce outbreaks. Psychological care may also be indicated because of the impact of recurrent genital herpes on quality of life.
To note : In France, the prevalence in adults in the general population is high and would be respectively 67% for HSV1 and 17% for HSV2.
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