Introduction:
Herpes is a viral infection that causes sores and blisters in the mouth and genitals. This disease is transmitted from one person to another through the physical contact of moist areas, which includes sexual activity. A person with the herpes virus can transmit it to a non-infected person through physical contact (sex). Along with blisters and sores, people develop some other symptoms that make the situation worse. These include pain, swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, and emotional instability. There is no cure for this disease, but the right treatment will help eradicate the symptoms and decrease the risk of recurrence. Safe sex and hand hygiene will be game changers for this disease in order to prevent yourself from getting herpes. There are two types of herpes viruses.
Oral herpes is a skin condition that mostly affects the mouth and surrounding skin but can also affect the vaginal area. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1).
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and is transmitted sexually:
1)Genital herpes
 Herpes is a frequently occurring sexually transmitted infection (STI).A person with genital herpes may exhibit minimal symptoms or none at all. Little blistering lesions that are often found around the mouth, genitalia, or rectum are the hallmark signs of genital herpes. When these lesions occur on the face, they are sometimes referred to as cold sores. After the fluid-filled blisters rupture, they can ache for two to four weeks before healing into tiny blisters.
Symptoms:
2)Oral herpes:
HSV-1 is the main virus that causes oral herpes, while HSV-2 infections can also occur in the mouth’s surrounding tissues. The initial symptoms of an oral herpes outbreak can include tingling, burning, or itching around the lips, tongue, or mouth. Afterwards, these spots or anywhere on the skin may have cold sores or tiny blisters. When these cold sores begin to leak, they take about four to six days to cure and create a crust.
Symptoms of oral herpes
Blisters, also known as fever sores or cold sores, appear in or around the lips and mouth as a result of oral herpes.These blisters can occasionally appear elsewhere on the tongue or face, but they are less common in other skin regions.
Causes:
When HSV is present on the skin, it can spread quickly from one person to another by coming into contact with the wet skin of the anus and mouth.
Additionally, the virus can spread through contact with the eyes and other skin regions.
It is not possible for someone to get HSV by frequently touching a towel or a washbasin.
The sores typically last for two to three weeks before going away.
Mode of transmission: sharing sex toys, engaging in vaginal or anal sex without the use of a barrier protection, like a condom, or having any additional oral or genital contact with a herpes carrier
The period of time between the onset of symptoms and their healing is when the virus is most contagious. It happens less frequently that a person can spread the virus even in the absence of symptoms.
Prevention:
Preventive measures include wearing barrier protection, like condoms, during sexual activity, refraining from sexual activity while symptoms are present, avoiding oral sex and kissing when there is a cold sore around the mouth, and thoroughly washing your hands during an outbreak, especially after touching the affected area.
Treatment:
People with herpes must take advice from the doctor because if it gets serious, this might cause complications. Health care professionals are trained to treat people with medication, which depends on the severity of the herpes. Over-the-counter medications are not allowed to be taken because this will not eradicate the main cause. This will only suppress the symptoms temporarily.
Other treatments:
- Consuming painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Soaking in a warm sitz bath, taking a bath with mildly salted water, or applying bidet or bottle water to blisters to reduce discomfort while peeing’
- Wearing loose clothing to prevent discomfort, applying petroleum jelly to the affected areas, and applying aloe vera gel to sores.
waiting to engage in sexual activity, even with protection, until symptoms have subsided.
Conclusion:
Herpes is a viral infection that affects the areas of the mouth and genitals. There are two separate viruses for herpes that affect two different areas of the human body. The mode of transmission is contracting with the infected person through physical contact. In this way, it will transfer from one person to another. People can prevent this by having safe and protected sex. Personal hygiene is the first and foremost thing that should be kept as a priority. There is no cure for it, but treatment will help reduce the symptoms and decrease the chances of recurrence. Sores, blisters on the area of the mouth, and genitals are the most prominent symptoms of herpes.
