Genital herpes is caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus. The virus is spread by close contact with the skin or moist membranes.
A mother may also transmit the virus to her baby during birth. Neonatal herpes may result in encephalitis , which can lead to permanent neurological damage or death of an infant.
Symptoms may include painful, fluid-filled blisters, sores, or ulcers on or around the genitals; swollen lymph nodes in the groin; headache; fever; painful urination; and, in women, a vaginal discharge. Symptoms usually disappear within a few weeks, but the virus remains dormant and may reactivate, causing another attack. The person is not highly infectious during the dormant period.
Attacks of genital herpes may be treated with antiviral medication. This reduces the severity of the symptoms but does not eliminate the virus