Genital Herpes Simplex

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) also known as genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. An STD is an infection that is spread though sexual contact, including sexual intercourse (sex). Genital herpes causes blisters in your genital area. The blisters will open up, leak out fluid, and dry up (crust over). If you are female, your genital area includes your vagina and cervix (the bottom part of your womb). If you are male, your genital area includes your penis, testicles, and the area around them. Your genital area also includes your urethra (the tube that carries urine out of your body) and your anus. There are two types of genital herpes (HSV type 1 and type 2).
  
  
• Your genital herpes may be recurrent (come back) many times in your lifetime . When it returns, you may or may not have symptoms. Symptoms may last as long as a few weeks during your first infection. Other than blisters, the most common symptoms include a burning, itching, or tingling feeling in your genital area. You may also have flu-like symptoms, such as a headache, fever, sore throat, muscle weakness, and appetite loss. You may have trouble urinating and you may bleed from your genitals. Your lymph nodes (small organs that contain cells to fight germs) may swell. Although HSV remains in your body throughout your lifetime, having your infection treated will help relieve your symptoms.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• You may have trouble urinating. You may have very bad pain in your genital area. Medicine for HSV may give you headaches or an upset stomach. You may respond more slowly to treatment, and some medicine may stop working after awhile. If you have genital herpes during pregnancy, your baby is at risk of getting herpes. Your baby may weigh less at birth than it should. The infection may damage his eyes and brain. Having genital herpes may also increase your risk of having a miscarriage (losing your baby while pregnant).
  
  
• Having HSV puts you at risk for having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The small openings caused by the blisters on the genitals allow HIV to get into your body. Having a weak immune system may cause you to have severe symptoms. Infection can spread and cause swelling of other organs, such as your brain, lungs, and liver. HSV may also spread to your brain and spinal cord causing serious infections called encephalitis and meningitis.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

IV:

An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.

Vital signs:

Caregivers will check your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and temperature. They will also ask about your pain. These vital signs give caregivers information about your current health.

Medicine:

• Antivirals: This medicine helps stop the virus from getting worse. It may also shorten the time you have the blisters. Your caregiver will give tell you when to use this medicine. Your caregiver may also give you this medicine to help stop blisters from happening again. In this case, you may take it every day for a long time.
  
  
• Anesthesia: Your caregiver may give you medicine to put on top of the blisters called topical anesthesia. This medicine will help numb the area and help your pain.
  
  
• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.

Tests:

• Blood tests: You may need blood taken for tests. The blood can be taken from a vein in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. This test checks if your blood contains HSV. This test can help confirm if your blisters are caused by HSV. You may also have this test if you have no symptoms but have a partner with genital herpes.
  
  
• Culture: This test may help find out what germ is causing your infection. Your caregiver will take a sample of your blisters and send it to a lab for testing. He may get the sample by rubbing a cotton swab on or around the blisters. The sample will be mixed with a special solution to see if it grows out HSV.
  
  
• Spinal fluid test: Your caregiver may get fluid from your spine to do a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. This test can detect whether your infection is caused by HSV type 1 or type 2.
  
  
• Smear test: Your caregiver will take a sample of your blisters and send it to a lab for testing. This test is called a smear test. Samples are checked under a microscope. This will help caregivers learn what is causing your condition.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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