Genital Warts and Herpes: Differences, Similarities And Treatments
The problem with the general information about genital herpes and genital warts treatment is that people think that they are the same thing. The question is, why? Here are the most common reasons why people think that genital herpes and genital warts are the same.
They are both incurable but treatable
These treatments allow you to get temporary respite from the effects of these diseases. However, even if the symptoms like warts and sores disappear. The warts and sores can grow again and again because the infection that causes them may still be in the cells of your body.
They are both hard to live with.
They are gross and itchy. They can block the anal passage and the vagina if not treated immediately.
They are both categorized as sexually transmitted diseases.
There are other ways of getting infected with these diseases. Herpes can be transmitted through kissing and other points of contact between bodies. Therefore these sores and warts can also show on your lips, anus and other body parts. What’s worse is that both of these diseases can affect the birthing period.
These two diseases have many similarities but they are also very different. Here are some of their differences:
They are caused by two different viruses:
Genital warts are caused by a virus called human papilloma while herpes are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Both of these viruses can be easily transmitted through sexual contact. And because they are two different viruses, it is possible to be infected by both viruses at the same time.
When that happens, it just so happens that you are twice as unfortunate. In this case, it is best to get a medical professional to evaluate your case and give you genital warts treatment advice
They develop differently:
Genital warts can grow bigger and bigger as long as they are not removed. On the other hand, herpes manifest during “outbreaks”, where you develop sores on your skin. Eventually these sores will burst, dry up and go away.
Genital warts do not really hurt but genital herpes do. The sore that get developed in herpes are really very painful to live with. Even if genital warts do not hurt, they should both be treated immediately, especially before they develop into worse manifestations.
They need to be treated differently:
Genital warts treatment can come in the form of medicinal creams or other more drastic means of removal. These medicinal creams can be prescribed by a doctor. He or she can also prescribe other means of wart removal like surgery, nitrogen freezing and cauterizing using electric needles.
On the other hand, treating herpes requires simple practices like drinking fluids, resting well and preventing any kind of contact with sores during an outbreak. These sores are very painful but they will go away in time. Therefore, treatment for herpes can be quite simple.
