Life threatening herpes infection complications and it's early stages

Herpes infections have been implicated in many bizarre and life threatening complications, neurological complications  like aseptic meningitis can arise.

Herpes infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Herpes is also the most common cause of ulcers of genitals.

It is seen in both sexes but identified earlier in women. It  can be lifelong or recurrent .

Herpes infection is transmitted during close contact  with a person actively shedding the virus (who maybe asymptomatic).

Different types of herpes virus infection exist, type 1 causes oral herpes, type 2 causes genital infections. Type 1 has been seen in genital infections where oral sex was involved.

Areas susceptible to herpes virus include mucous membrane of genital tract,rectum,mouth,oropharynx(back of tongue). The virus can ascend and reside in the nerve root ganglia of the back and cause recurrent infections.

Features to look out for in primary herpes include genital rash or ulcers accompanied with fever, muscle pain, headache. Ulcers from herpes are usually painful.

You may notice painful lymph nodes around groin. These lesions and ulcers depending on gender may involve penis, vulva, cervix and even rectum. Brain involvement of herpes infection is what may give rice to aseptic meningitis. Meningitis is a life threatening condition. The person may lapse into unconsciousness with stiff neck. Difficulty in voiding urine may complicate herpes infection if autonomic nerves are involved.

Recurrent infections most commonly due to HSV-2 and usually includes persons who had genital herpes in the past. Symptoms and manifestations may be more severe in immunocompromised patients (hiv, diabetes etc.) . Recurrence rate and asymptomatic spread is of higher frequency in this group.