thromycin (Zithromax) will kill the bacteria and cure the disease. It is crucial that those infected alert their sexual partners to allow them to be adequately treated.
             How do I avoid Getting It (Prevention)?
             Avoidance by abstinence, or good use of a condom during sexual relations is the surest way of avoiding this disease.
             Herpes is a viral infection of the skin caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Classically, HSV-1 caused a mouth and lip rash (i.e., cold sore - pictured below), while HSV-2 caused the genital herpes. Over the last decade, it has become clear that either strain of this virus can cause either rash, though 75% of genital herpes is caused by HSV-2. One in five of us in the general population has genital herpes while almost three out of four people have a history of cold sores caused by the Herpes virus. As expected, one's sexual history determines the prevalence of the genital form of this infection. In other words, while only 3% of nuns have genital herpes, 80% of prostitutes have it.
             Herpes is spread by skin-to-skin contact. Unfortunately, most exposure occurs when there is no identifiable rash (e.g., when the person is asymptomatic) as there is shedding of the virus through the skin about 1% of the time. (Click on the images for a more detailed view.)
             After exposure to the virus, a 2 to 20 day incubation period ensues followed by the primary genital herpes outbreak. Only 50% of those infected will have significant enough symptoms to know they are infected. Symptoms of primary genital herpes may include fever, headache, and muscle aches followed 3 days later by the classical rash (pictured) of painful blisters and ulcerations of the skin where the infection occurred.
             Tender and swollen groin glands (lymph nodes) then develop about a week after the skin rash. The rash and pain usually completely goes away over 3 to 4 weeks.
             Unfortunately, the virus then hangs around in the nerves, often...