The first herpes outbreak is painful with swollen blisters, fever, and fatigue. Subsequent outbreaks are less severe, but patients are still contagious. Regular testing is necessary to confirm the disease status. Antiviral drugs and topical applications can help treat the outbreak. Patients should avoid close contact and inform sexual partners. Regular medical checkups are essential to identify and treat infectious diseases. Herpes is a common condition carried by many people.
An initial herpes outbreak, the first herpes outbreak after viral exposure, will be characterized by pain, swollen blisters, and a general feeling of being unwell. Subsequent outbreaks will be less severe, as the body will be able to fight the virus more effectively. Not everyone who is exposed to the herpes virus will develop outbreaks, and people can carry the virus without having any symptoms. Regular testing for sexually transmitted infections is the only way to confirm the disease status if you have herpes.
People who develop outbreaks will have an initial herpes outbreak about one to two weeks after exposure. In oral or genital herpes, the first signs will be a tingling and itching sensation, followed by the development of red bumps. The bumps will turn into fluid-filled blisters, and the blisters may burst, creating open sores. The first herpes outbreak is usually very painful, as well as being itchy.
The patient may have a fever of around 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.8 degrees Celsius) and may develop headaches, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Patients often feel tired during an initial herpes outbreak. In the case of women, vaginal discharge and difficulty urinating may develop, as herpes blisters may form in and around the vulva and vagina. Men tend to have less severe symptoms and may be limited to a handful of blisters.
Antiviral drugs may be provided to treat the outbreak, although it may take several days for them to take effect. Some patients find topical applications of products designed to limit pain and soreness helpful. Outbreaks of genital herpes can be soothed by bathing in baking soda and other products known to limit skin irritation and pain. During the first herpes outbreak, the patient is also highly contagious. Close personal contact with areas where blisters are present should be avoided, and patients may wish to contact any sexual partners recent about the herpes outbreak to encourage them to get tested.
Typically, an initial outbreak of herpes is hard to miss. However, sometimes patients only develop one or two blisters and may not recognize them as herpes sores. For this reason, sexually active people should get regular medical checkups to check for signs of infectious diseases and other medical problems. If conditions such as herpes are identified, treatment options can be discussed. Herpes is a very common condition carried by numerous people.
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