The vast majority of people on the planet are carriers of herpes viruses, which, under certain circumstances, manifest themselves as painful herpes rashes on the skin and mucous membranes on any part of the body.
The lips, eye and genital areas are most often affected. Anal herpes is a genital type of pathology; it accounts for approximately a quarter of all cases of infection, but not everyone knows about it.
In order not to miss the development and to treat a “cold” in the anus in time, you need to know about the causes, symptoms and external manifestations of this unpleasant problem.
Causes
So, the cause of herpes in general, and herpes around the anus in particular, is a virus. There are two types; there is no difference between them in terms of symptoms and treatment. Having penetrated the body in one way or another, it may appear immediately, or it may not make itself felt for some time. But as soon as a person gets cold, catches a cold, etc. (see table), herpes begins its pathological action - penetration into cells and reproduction. This leads to characteristic symptoms.
How and why the virus enters the body:
- unprotected sex;
- kisses;
- skin microtraumas;
- frequent colds;
- cracks in the rectal area;
- violation of hygiene rules.
What causes perianal herpes to become active:
- cooling;
- winter season;
- decreased intake of vitamins and minerals;
- physical stress;
- stress;
- treatment with glucocorticoids;
- immunodeficiency state (in infectious diseases).
The appearance of anal herpes should not be considered solely a consequence of promiscuous sex life. There are many entry points for the virus. But to reduce the risk, you still need to keep in mind the possible sexual route of transmission. No contraceptive is a 100% prevention method.
What does herpes look like in an intimate place?
Herpes in an intimate place (photo 1) always worries patients, since the damage to the surface of the genitals with herpetic lesions is the most painful. Symptoms of herpes in an intimate area are typical, since the disease goes through the same three stages as herpes in another location. In the genital area, herpes initially manifests itself as discomfort on the skin. The skin begins to burn, itch, become hot and painful when touched. Swelling may occur.
Until herpetic blisters appear on the surface of the genitals, herpes in an intimate place is more reminiscent of an allergy. Later, when the disease becomes typical, like genital herpes in men, you can see small blisters appearing in the hyperemic area. The blisters ripen, burst, and then crusts form on intimate places. They usually fall off after a few days and reveal a renewed epidermis underneath.
Symptoms
Manifestations depend on which area of the anal zone the herpes virus is activated.
Inside the rectum:
- herpes and anal itching, feeling of drinking and irritation;
- painful stool;
- change in stool color.
Around the anus:
- feeling of irritation;
- pain;
- vaginal discharge (in women);
- redness and swelling, replaced first by transparent vesicles, and then by ulcers and scars;
- peeling of the skin.
In addition, there may be:
- fatigue;
- enlarged lymph nodes:
- slight increase in temperature (up to 38 degrees);
- sleep disorders.
In the perineum (herpes near the anus) and on the buttocks there is a rather characteristic appearance, reminiscent of a scattering of bright red pimples. This is a visual manifestation of the human immune system fighting the herpes virus. Sometimes it is even difficult for the patient to sit. All these phenomena occur suddenly, literally in one day or night. If all of the above symptoms appear, you should consult a dermatovenerologist or a local physician or general practitioner.
Do you think fatigue always indicates the presence of sexually transmitted diseases?
Yes, alwaysNo, not always
When is the rectum affected?
In some cases, along with the intestines, herpes affects the rectum; at the moment, no modern treatment method can completely get rid of the disease. All the intricacies of such a delicate problem need to be understood in more detail.
More: Herpes in the throat, a childhood disease in adulthood
Mostly drugs for rectal use are represented in relatively small quantities. In some cases, the active substances become toxic to the tissue of the stomach, liver, and kidneys. Sometimes resistant forms of the virus arise that are difficult to cure.
The symptoms of rectal or rectal herpes can be quite unusual. Very often they are directly related to lumbosacral radiculopathy, impaired urinary excretion; men may experience potency disorders. In addition, there is a disturbance of sensitivity in the sacral area, and pain in the lower abdomen of the buttocks and thighs is disturbing. Most often the symptoms affect the male body.
Diagnostics
One examination by a doctor is not enough. He can only suspect that this picture occurs when infected with the herpes virus. To make a final diagnosis, additional studies are needed, to which the patient is referred to choose from.
Basic tests:
- Enzyme immunoassay (search for specific enzymes for the virus).
- Microscopic method (take a sample from the rash area and look under a microscope).
- Biological method: infection of laboratory animals with the blood of a patient with a virus presumably in it.
- Immunofluorescence analysis (treatment of the sample taken with photochromes; if it contains the herpes virus, there will be a specific glow, visible under a microscope.).
- PCR (determination of viral DNA in a material).
- Diagnostics can be performed both in public institutions and in private ones.
Expert opinion
Artem Sergeevich Rakov, venereologist, more than 10 years of experience
It is necessary to find the cause of herpes. The patient's life history may be sufficient for this purpose.
If the reason is still unclear, a general blood and urine test and a biochemical blood test (for example, in diabetes mellitus can activate HSV) are prescribed for pathogens of other diseases, especially immunodeficiency ones (HIV, hepatitis viruses).
Kinds
Proctitis is inflammation of the mucous membrane in the rectum.
Herpesvirus infection manifests itself in the following forms:
- infection (infection of a healthy person for the first time, dropsy is localized in one place or several small lesions appear);
- latent infection (the latent presence of infection cannot be detected in biological materials, while the nerve ganglia retain pathological microorganisms);
- relapse (renewal of disease symptoms more than 6 times in 12 months).
Herpes is located in one place, but the disease occurs in different ways, which leads to classification into:
- herpetic proctitis;
- perianal herpes.
Perianal herpes
The location of the disease is the folds of skin near the anus. Blistering ulcers appear on the skin (in women they often move towards the vagina). Diagnosing perianal herpes is not difficult, since the doctor can give an opinion without tests.
Herpetic proctitis
This type of anal herpes is difficult to diagnose, since sores appear on the mucous membranes of the rectum. The disease can only be detected using an endoscope.
Treatment
Traditional treatment can be supplemented with folk treatment.
Traditional
First-line medications are drugs based on the substance acyclovir, the main effect of which is to stop the replication of the virus. Both tablets and special creams, gels, and ointments are prescribed for local treatment. The duration and dosage of treatment is determined by the doctor individually for each patient.
In addition to acyclovir ointment, the following may be prescribed:
- Flacoside;
- Oksolin;
- Helepin;
- Tromantadine;
- Debrofen.
Of course, you shouldn’t neglect your medications. In this article you can find out what ointments are usually prescribed for herpes and how much they cost.
Interferon preparations, vitamins, and enhanced nutrition are also prescribed. To dry out irritations, baby powder or a solution of brilliant green can be used.
Folk
There are also a number of useful recipes:
- Plantain seeds, vinegar. Mix plantain seeds with a weak solution of acetic acid and apply to the anus.
- Drink hydrogen peroxide solution. Dissolve 1 drop in 50 ml of water, drink an hour before meals three times a day. The next day, take two drops, then three - and so on until on the 10th day you take 10 drops. After this there is a break.
- Apply lotions with valoserdin (valocordin, corvalol).
- Meadowsweet flowers, vodka, sugar. Pour 20 grams of meadowsweet flowers with half a liter of vodka, add a pinch of granulated sugar and refrigerate for two weeks. Take three tablespoons orally before meals.
- Copper sulfate, butter. Prepare the ointment: 1 gram of copper sulfate per 30 grams of high-fat butter. Apply to affected areas three times a day.
- Pumpkin tail. Bake the pumpkin tail in the oven until completely dry, crush it in a mortar and mix with some kind of oil (preferably unrefined). Lubricate the perineum, external genitalia (to prevent herpes from spreading there), as well as the rectum from the inside.
Clinical manifestations
Classic herpes of the anus begins with precursors - a person experiences itching, tingling and a slight burning sensation at the site of future manifestation of the infection for several hours or days.
Then a characteristic rash appears in the form of a group of small blisters with a diameter of up to 2 mm, located on a hyperemic base and filled with transparent contents.
Herpes rashes open with the formation of erosive or ulcerative defects covered with crusts (see photo of what genital herpes looks like). During the initial episode of the disease, symptoms of general intoxication may be quite pronounced - malaise, fever, headache and muscle pain, nausea. Relapses are usually shorter and milder. Reversal of symptoms occurs within a month.
Features of anal herpes
The difference from other types of infection is expressed in the following:
- Vesicles cannot always be seen; they quickly open, which creates difficulties for diagnosing the disease. Accelerated destruction is explained by the close arrangement of the bubbles to each other and the tension created in this zone during the act of defecation.
- Erosive and ulcerative defects are confluent in nature.
- A secondary bacterial infection is often associated - the bottom of the ulcers is covered with purulent exudate, which forms yellow crusts when dried.
- The intensity of pain is significant.
- The patient's psycho-emotional state suffers greatly.
- Healing takes longer.
- The inguinal lymph nodes are enlarged.
- Atypical forms of the disease may occur - hemorrhagic (vesicles with bloody contents) or abortive variant (spots and nodules instead of vesicles or simply hyperemia and swelling of tissues).
Complications
Frequent exacerbations of anal herpes significantly increase the risk of scarring in the anus (see photo).
Secondary infection can lead to the development of purulent herpetic paraproctitis (inflammation of the perirectal tissue) and pathological processes in the genitourinary organs.
Chronic carriage of HSV is considered a predisposing factor for the development of cancer. Herpes in the intimate area is especially dangerous for pregnant women, as it poses a threat to normal gestation and the health of the unborn child.
Video
In this video, they will tell you in more detail whether you should worry about itching in the anus and how to deal with it.
With timely treatment and proper treatment, herpes in the anal canal can be cured in just a few weeks. Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely destroy the virus; it will remain in the body for the rest of its life. However, its exacerbation can be prevented; for this it is necessary to avoid provoking factors and follow preventive measures to avoid herpes of the anal area.
Preventive actions
After visiting a doctor, the patient must receive a list of recommendations to increase the performance of the body’s immune system, because the symptoms of herpes in the anus occur especially actively against the background of a weakened immune system. The patient is advised to adhere to the following rules for preventing this disease:
- exclusion of stressful situations;
- the use of vitamin preparations and medicines that increase immunity;
- inclusion of sports and walks in the fresh air in the daily routine;
- compliance with hygiene standards;
- eliminating bad habits;
- proper and timely nutrition;
- exclusion of unprotected sexual intercourse.
Herpetic lesions cannot be called an overly dangerous disease, but in some cases the signs of this pathology cause certain inconvenience and even pose a threat to the patient’s life! Therefore, treatment of anal and other types of herpes should be timely and complete. Pay more attention to your health, avoid bad habits, lead an active lifestyle - and then you will not be afraid of any disease.
