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Common Conditions of Genitalia
Genital Herpes
This is caused by a different strain of the same virus, caught by having sex with someone who has herpes. It is common in young people. Groups of little blisters appear on the genital area, thighs and buttocks. They are painful, tender and highly infectious. The first infection is the worst with swollen glands and a temperature. The blisters crust over and clear in seven to ten days. The virus becomes dormant but may cause prepeated attacks. When coping with genital herpes, the virus hidden in the nerves cannot be killed. Anti-viral creams and lotions, used immediately, may shorten an attack. Warm salt water baths and pain-killers ( Aspirin and Paracetamol as recommended by the doctor) make you more comfortable during an attqack. All attacks of genital herpes are infectious. Avoid having sex during an attack, but once the scabs have disappeared, you can have it again. Condoms lessen the risk of infection. Genital herpes is in the news and people have been frightened by speculations in the press.
Repeated herpes can ba big problem, but mostly people have a single mild attack. Frequent attacks of genital herpes paly ahvoc with your sex life, but new vaccines and anti-viral drugs are being developing in our country to combat this infectious disease. Worry and depression, poor general health, lack of sleep and an unhealthy diet may reduce your resistence to infection. An attack of genital herpes in pregnancy is very serious as an infected mother can pass on the infection to her baby and so she may need to be delivered by a Caesarean section.
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