Symptoms of Herpesviridae

The symptoms of genital herpes vary greatly from person to person, with many people having no noticeable symptoms (asymptomatic).

The first outbreak...
Symptoms:

• usually develop within 2 to 20 days after contact
• could continue up to 2 weeks
• may be so mild it goes unnoticed
• may take longer or be less severe in some people, especially in those with partial immunity to the virus from having facial herpes, e.g. cold sores.
• in the first attack sometimes causes visible sores
• last between 10 - 21 days

Initially,antibodies will not be produced because people have yet to be exposed with this virus. Once the herpes virus gets into skin cells,it reproduce and replicates, making the skin red and sensitive. Blisters or bumps may appear on genital area.


Other symptoms include:

• swollen lymph glands
• painful inflamed blisters develop around infected area
• headache
• muscle ache
• fever
• vaginal or penis discharge
• infection of the urethra causing a burning sensation during urination
• a burning sensation in the genitals
• lower back pain
• small red bumps may appear in the genital area following earlier symptoms, later developing into painful blisters, which crust over, form a scab, and heal.

Up to 60% of people who have genital HSV show no signs of the disease and are unaware that they are infected, but are capable of transmitting the virus to others (asymptomatic viral shedding).

Those who have obvious symptoms will continue to have subsequent recurrence. However, it will not be as painful as before

Recurrences:

• are usually shorter and less severe than the initial episode
• may decrease in both severity and frequency over time
• are usually preceded by warning symptoms (also known as prodromal symptoms)
• After the lesions have healed, and the symptoms of recurrence have ended, pain and discomfort in the genital area is still sometimes felt (post-herpetic neuralgia).

Signs of Recurrent Outbreaks:

• Breaks or irregularities in the skin, such as a cut, red bump or rash
• Small sores or blisters that form a crust may occur anywhere in the region between the legs--thigh, buttocks, anus, or pubis

Cycle of a typical outbreak or recurrence

The symptoms of an active herpes outbreak or recurrence may occur in the following phases.

1.Inflammation
Swelling, tenderness, and/or redness that may appear before the actual outbreak, and may include itching, and sensitivity. The inflammation may never progress to blisters.

2.Blisters
One or several small fluid filled lesions, tiny red bumps, or rash may form and can resemble small fissures, especially near the anus.

3.Ulcers
When the skin breaks on the blisters, small, round, wet looking, ulcers leaking clear to milky colored fluid can be seen

4.Crust
The sores begin to dry, scab, and crust over beginning the healing process. The virus may possibly still be present until the ulcer has completely healed, and the scab falls off.

5.Healing
New skin is formed and may look slightly red, or silver. Viral replication is complete, the virus has left the skin's surface, and the skin is now safe to touch. Healing of the skin does not normally leave scarring. The virus then retreats into the nerves and lies dormant.