Herpes genital Stages
Herpes genitalis progresses through distinct phases. [5]
The prodrome period
The prodrome phase is the first stage of genital herpes. The prodrome is the stage of herpes symptoms that precedes an outbreak. During the prodrome phase, the virus travels to the skin’s surface and may produce tingling, pain, redness, itching, or burning in the vicinity of the affected area. If the infection develops around the labia or within the urethra, urination may become excruciating. The epidermis remains infectious so long as the outbreak persists.
The prodrome is a phase of symptoms that typically lasts several hours and indicates the beginning of an outbreak. During the prodrome phase of genital herpes, some may experience flu-like symptoms such as headache, enlarged glands, or fever. During the initial phases, patients may also experience pain in the hips, buttocks, or legs, and these symptoms typically worsen if it is the first outbreak. Even though no sores or blisters are visible in the early phases of the infection, the skin is highly contagious.
The blistering phase
Once the herpes virus reaches the skin’s surface, sores or ulcers begin to form. The fluid inside blisters caused by the herpes simplex virus ranges in color from whitish-yellow to transparent. Blisters and bumps can be sensitive and painful to the contact. The skin encircling herpes virus blisters is typically red, and the blisters appear in clusters. Herpes virus blisters can resemble ingrown hairs, razor burn, pimples, and jock irritation. Due to these similarities, herpes can be misidentified for one of these skin diseases. During this stage, fever-like symptoms of genital herpes infection can persist.
The ulcer period
The blisters begin to rupture and eventually discharge. During the drainage phase, ulcers, or open sores, appear on the surface of the epidermis. Ulcers initially appear as red or brown craters, and these ulcers may ooze fluid or hemorrhage, although this is extremely uncommon. The ulcer stage of open sores is significantly more painful and uncomfortable than the antecedent blister stage. Ulcers begin to accrue a yellow-white fluid over time, which eventually hardens and forms a scab or crust. It is not possible to form scabs and crusts on damp areas such as the genitalia or the inside of the mouth.
The recovery period
Ulcers may require considerable time to heal correctly. During the initial outbreak of a herpes infection, recovery may take up to four weeks. However, recovery is faster during subsequent outbreaks of the herpes virus. As scabs and crusts begin to recover on the outside, itching is a common symptom at this stage. After the crust has been removed, the epidermis may remain pink for some time. Scarring is also a possibility if scabs are picked at. The crust and scab may break on their own, leading to possible bleeding in the affected area.
