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You could experience mild symptoms of HSV-2, but often no apparent symptoms are present at all. However, HSV-2 may cause recurrent painful genital ulcers and can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems. Besides these effects, severe genital herpes frequently causes psychological and emotional stress. If a woman with HSV-2 diagnosis is pregnant, it could be a potentially fatal infection for the infant. A cesarean -section delivery is common if a woman has active genital herpes at the time of birth. People infected with herpes may be more susceptible to HIV infection, and HIV-infected individuals may be more susceptible to HSV.
How to recognize a genital herpes infection?
Many people with HSV-2 are not aware that they have an infection, because they do not have lesions or suffer only very mild, almost unnoticeable symptoms. Sometimes, these symptoms are mistaken for insect bites or a rash. The primary episode usually occurs within two weeks of the virus is transmitted. Lesions usually heal within 2-4 weeks of the outbreak. Other symptoms may include a second crop of lesions, or flu-like symptoms including fever and swollen glands. A primary episode of genital herpes can cause several symptomatic recurrences a year, four to five on average. Most recurrences occur within the first year following the primary episode of herpes infection.
Herpes simplex, a recurrent viral infection, caused by Herpes Virus hominis (HVH) is a widespread infectious agent, and very hard to control. There are also some latent herpes-associated infections. It is important to recognize blisters that usually crust over, form a scab and then heal. Healing of the skin does not normally leave a scar. When it gets into skin cells, the virus reproduces itself and starts to multiply, making the skin red and sensitive. Blisters or bumps may appear on the genital area, first opening and then healing with the regeneration of new skin tissue. During the outbreak, the infected area may be painful; it might burn, itch or tingle. Other symptoms include fever, headache, infection of the urethra causing a burning sensation when urinating, muscle ache, painful inflamed blisters which develop around the infected area, and vaginal or penis discharge. The first episode of herpes infection is the most severe, with most episodes lasting 10-21 days.