What are the symptoms of genital herpes?

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus. Its symptoms include:

1. During the initial infection, symptoms may appear within 2-20 days after exposure to the virus, although some individuals may remain asymptomatic. Symptomatic patients may experience fever, fatigue, muscle pain, and swollen lymph nodes within several days to weeks. Redness, blisters, or ulcers may develop in the genital area, accompanied by pain, itching, or a burning sensation.

2. After the initial infection, the virus remains dormant in nerve cells and may cause recurrent outbreaks. Symptoms of recurrent infections are usually milder than those of the initial infection and may include mild pain, itching, or burning sensation, followed by smaller blisters or ulcers. Symptoms may last for several days to about a week.

Recurrences are frequent within the first year after infection. Alcohol consumption, spicy foods, fatigue, colds, anxiety, stress, sexual intercourse, and menstruation may act as triggers.

Genital herpes can be treated with antiviral medications to alleviate symptoms and reduce the frequency of recurrences, but there is currently no cure. Individuals experiencing related symptoms should seek medical attention promptly for treatment.