Medical Health Encyclopedia

Herpes genital (genital Herpes simplex)

Research suggests that the virus can be transmitted even in the absence of clinical disease, so that a sexual partner without obvious genital herpes sores may still transmit the illness. In fact, asymptomatic spread may actually contribute more to the spread of genital herpes than do active sores.

Various complications are associated with herpes infection. The herpes virus is of special significance to women. It has been implicated in causing cancer of the cervix. The risk increases when HSV is present in combination with human papilloma virus (HPV), the virus responsible for genital warts (condyloma).

For pregnant women, the presence of either HSV-1 or HSV-2 on the external genitalia or in the birth canal is a threat to the infant. Subsequent infection of the newborn can lead to herpetic meningitis, herpetic viremia, chronic skin infection, and even death.

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Herpes infection also poses a serious problem for the immunocompromised individual (patients with AIDS, undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or taking high doses of cortisone preparation). These people may suffer infections of various organs including:

• Herpetic keratitis -- herpes infection of the eye leading to scaring within the cornea and eventual blindness.
• Persistent infection of the mucous membranes and skin of the nose, mouth, and throat.
• Herpetic esophagitis -- infection of the esophagus.
• Herpetic hepatitis -- infection of the liver causing inflammation of the liver and eventual liver failure.
• Encephalitis -- a very serious infection of the brain. If untreated, approximately 60-80% of those who contract this condition will progress to coma and death within a few days. Those who recover often suffer some impairment, ranging from mild neurological impairment to paralysis.
• Pneumonitis -- infection of the lung causing a life-threatening pneumonia.

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