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Diseases » Genital herpes » Summary
 

What is Genital herpes?

What is Genital herpes?

  • Genital herpes: Sexually transmitted infection of the genital region.
  • Genital herpes: an infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) that is usually transmitted by sexual contact; marked by recurrent attacks of painful eruptions on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital area.
    Source - WordNet 2.1

Genital herpes: Introduction

Types of Genital herpes:

Broader types of Genital herpes:

How many people get Genital herpes?

Prevalance of Genital herpes: 67 million people (NIAID)
Prevalance Rate of Genital herpes: approx 1 in 4 or 24.63% or 67 million people in USA [about data]
Incidence (annual) of Genital herpes: 500,000 new cases annually; 1 million annual cases (CDC 2001)
Incidence Rate of Genital herpes: approx 1 in 544 or 0.18% or 500,000 people in USA [about data]
Prevalance of Genital herpes: Nationwide, 45 million people ages 12 and older, or one out of five of the total adolescent and adult population, are infected with HSV-2. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: DSTD) ... About one in five people in the United States over age 12 – approximately 45 million individuals – are infected with HSV-2, the virus that causes genital herpes. (Source: excerpt from Sexually Transmitted Diseases Statistics, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID) ... Genital herpes affects an estimated 60 million Americans. (Source: excerpt from Sexually Transmitted Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID) ... Genital herpes is a contagious viral infection that affects an estimated 30 million Americans. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: NWHIC)
Incidence of Genital herpes: Up to 1 million new HSV-2 infections may be transmitted each year in the United States. (Source: excerpt from Sexually Transmitted Diseases Statistics, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID) ... Approximately 500,000 new cases of this incurable viral infection develop annually. (Source: excerpt from Sexually Transmitted Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID) ... Each year, as many as 500,000 new cases are believed to occur. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: NWHIC)

Who gets Genital herpes?

Patient Profile for Genital herpes: Teens and adults (sexually active ages)

Gender Profile for Genital herpes: HSV-2 infection is more common in women (approximately one out of four women) than in men (almost one out of five). This may be due to male-to-female transmission being more efficient than female-to-male transmission. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: DSTD)

Race Profile for Genital herpes: HSV-2 infection also is more common in blacks (45.9%) than in whites (17.6%). (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: DSTD)

How serious is Genital herpes?

Complications of Genital herpes: see complications of Genital herpes
Prognosis of Genital herpes: Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to go down over a period of years. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: DSTD) ... HSV remains in certain nerve cells of the body for life, and can produce symptoms off and on in some infected people. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

What causes Genital herpes?

Causes of Genital herpes: see causes of Genital herpes
Risk factors for Genital herpes: see risk factors for Genital herpes

What are the symptoms of Genital herpes?

Symptoms of Genital herpes: see symptoms of Genital herpes

Complications of Genital herpes: see complications of Genital herpes

Incubation period for Genital herpes: 2-10 days after exposure

Incubation period for Genital herpes: The first episode usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores typically heal within two to four weeks. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: DSTD)

Duration of Genital herpes: last an average of 2 to 3 weeks. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: NWHIC)

Can anyone else get Genital herpes?

Contagion of Genital herpes: Sexual activity; sexual intercourse, anal sex, oral sex.
More information: see contagiousness of Genital herpes
Inheritance: see inheritance of Genital herpes

Genital herpes: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Genital herpes.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Genital herpes.

How is it treated?

Treatments for Genital herpes: see treatments for Genital herpes
Prevention of Genital herpes: see prevention of Genital herpes
Research for Genital herpes: see research for Genital herpes

Society issues for Genital herpes

Costs of Genital herpes: approximately $237 million in 1994 (NIAID)
Costs of Genital herpes: Costs associated with genital herpes totalled approximately $237 million in 1994. (Source: excerpt from Sexually Transmitted Diseases Statistics, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Hospitalization statistics for Genital herpes: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Genital herpes:

  • 0.0022% (284) of hospital consultant episodes were for anogenital herpesviral infection in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • 93% of hospital consultant episodes for anogenital herpesviral infection required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • 8% of hospital consultant episodes for anogenital herpesviral infection were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • 92% of hospital consultant episodes for anogenital herpesviral infection were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • 89% of hospital consultant episodes for anogenital herpesviral infection required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • more statistics...»

Organs Affected by Genital herpes:

Organs and body systems related to Genital herpes include:

Name and Aliases of Genital herpes

Main name of condition: Genital herpes

Class of Condition for Genital herpes: viral

Other names or spellings for Genital herpes:

herpes simplex virus type 2, HSV type 2, HSV-2

Herpes genitalis
Source - WordNet 2.1

Genital herpes: Related Conditions

Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Genital herpes:


 » Next page: Online Medical Textbooks for Genital herpes

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