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Atypical Herpes Symptoms

Almost everyone is familiar with herpes, a word that strikes fear into the hearts of most sexually-active people around the world. Most people think they know the signs, but there are some less than typical symptoms of which a concerned person should be aware.

  1. The Facts

    • Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). Most patients have minimal symptoms from an infection, but these generally include blisters in the genital area which can take two to four weeks to heal after the initial outbreak. CDC statistics indicate that at least 45 million people ages 12 and older, or one out of five adolescents and adults, have had a genital HSV infection.

    Significance

    • According to Dr. Stephen Sacks, author of the book "The Truth About Herpes," the disease is often misidentified by both patients and doctors, confused with spider bites, yeast infections, hemorrhoids, pimples, shingles, water blisters or chafing. Transmission of herpes can also occur from an infected partner who does not have a visible sore and may not know that he or she is infected. This combination of misidentification and transmission risk is why it's vital for people to be aware of the atypical symptoms often presented in herpes cases so that a prompt diagnosis and treatment can occur.

    Identification

    • Some of the more common atypical symptoms of genital herpes are: (1) Pain on passing urine (dysuria) or difficulty getting urine started; (2) A discharge from the vagina or vaginitis of unknown cause; (3) A variety of systemic symptoms such as flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, and muscle pain) and/or tender or swollen lymph glands, particularly in the groin; (4) leg pains; (5) headaches; (6) mild itching or minimal discomfort

    Considerations

    • With patients experiencing atypical symptoms, the only way to determine for certain if the infection is indeed herpes is through either a viral culture or a blood test. Viral cultures are used when there are lesions visible, whereas blood tests are used with other symptoms, or when no symptoms are present, to look for antibodies in the blood. False-positive results can occur, however, so these tests aren't recommended for routine use in screening low-risk populations. Some laboratories may also use newer tests, such as measuring the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the genetic material of the virus or rapid fluorescent antibody screening.

    Prevention/Solution

    • According to the American Social Health Association, there are three antiviral medications that are FDA-approved for the treatment of genital herpes: (1) Acyclovir, also sold under the brand name Zovirax®; (2) A newer drug, valacyclovir (brand name Valtrex®), actually uses acyclovir as its active ingredient; (3) and Famciclovir (brand name Famvir®). Like valacyclovir, Famciclovir is well absorbed, persists for a longer time in the body and can be taken less frequently than acyclovir. There are two kinds of treatment regimens: episodic therapy (a person begins taking medication at the first sign of recurrence) and suppressive therapy (medication taken daily to hold HSV in check, so it's less likely to flare up and cause symptoms).

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