Genital herpes

For a lay person:

Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. It causes outbreaks of painful blisters and sores in the genital area that can recur.

For a trained medical person:

HSV-2 or HSV-1 infection with latency in sensory ganglia. Diagnosis by PCR of lesions. Treatment with aciclovir, valaciclovir or famciclovir for episodes or as suppressive therapy.

In Chinese medicine:

Flaws and Sionneau's textbook differentiates this condition into these patterns: Wind heat; Damp heat obstructing the network vessels; Yin deficiency-fire flaring above engender-ing dampness and heat below. Treatment follows the pattern a patient presents with, not the Western diagnosis alone.

When to get help: Get prompt care in pregnancy, as herpes can be passed to the baby at birth.