What disease does a swelling on the male genitals cause?

Men's genitals become larger mainly because the cavernous bodies inside become engorged with blood, especially when stimulated by the opposite sex. This phenomenon is called erection in medicine. Normally, men's genitals are relatively smooth, but there are exceptions. Some friends find that there is a bag on their genitals. What kind of disease is this?

Herpes refers to a disease caused by viruses in the Herpesviridae family. Currently, eight viruses in the Herpesviridae family (herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, human cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and human herpes virus type 6, 7, and 8) are known to cause human diseases. These viruses are collectively referred to as human herpes viruses (HHV). HHV is a group of medium-sized enveloped DNA viruses that can cause a variety of human diseases and can remain latent in the body for a long time, causing recurrent infections under certain conditions. Common clinical diseases include chickenpox, herpes zoster, herpes simplex, and genital herpes. It can invade multiple organs of the human body and can occur at any age.

Clinical manifestations

1. Diseases caused by the varicella-zoster virus

(1) Herpes zoster

It is an acute infectious skin disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Some patients become carriers of the virus after being infected without developing symptoms. Because the virus is neurotropic, it can remain dormant in the neurons of the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord for a long time after infection. When the resistance is low or when there is fatigue, infection, or cold, the virus can grow and multiply again, and move to the skin along the nerve fibers, causing severe inflammation of the invaded nerves and skin. The rash is generally unilateral and distributed according to nerve segments. The most common sites are the intercostal nerves, cervical nerves, trigeminal nerves, and lumbar sacral nerves. It is composed of clustered herpes and is accompanied by pain. The older the age, the more severe the neuralgia, and it can cause post-herpetic neuralgia. This disease is more common in adults and is more common in spring and autumn. The incidence rate increases significantly with age.

(2) Varicella-zoster uveitis

It can be congenital or acquired. The acute retinal necrosis syndrome caused by it has become an important blinding eye disease. The diagnosis can be confirmed by isolating and culturing the varicella-zoster virus from the infected tissue. Slit lamp examination can reveal anterior uveal lesions; fundus fluorescence angiography can reveal retinal vasculitis and characteristic changes corresponding to retinal neovascularization and optic discitis.

(3) Typical lesions of herpes zoster are clustered blisters in the skin distribution areas of the first branch of the trigeminal nerve (frontal nerve, lacrimal nerve and nasociliary nerve) or the third main branch (relatively rare). However, it does not cross the central boundary between the eyelid and the nose, but is limited to one side. It is more common in middle-aged and elderly patients. Recurrence is rare after recovery.

(4) Herpes zoster oticus

It was first described by Ramsey Hunt in 1907, so it is also called Ramsey Hunt syndrome or Hunt syndrome, that is, Hunter syndrome, which is a disease caused by varicella-zoster virus infection. It is a group of special symptoms caused by facial nerve geniculate ganglion herpes virus infection, mainly manifested as severe ear pain on one side, ear herpes, peripheral facial paralysis on the same side, accompanied by hearing and balance disorders, so it is also called geniculate ganglion syndrome.

2. Diseases caused by herpes simplex virus

(1) Herpes simplex neonatorum

It is more common in premature infants, but can also occur in full-term infants. The lesions often affect multiple organs throughout the body. 70% are caused by HSV-2, which usually occurs 3 to 5 days after birth, with blisters and erosions on the skin, oral mucosa, and conjunctiva. Severe cases may be accompanied by fever, difficulty breathing, jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, and impaired consciousness.

(2) Pregnancy complicated by genital herpes Pregnant women often have recurrent vulvar herpes before pregnancy. This is caused by the reactivation of the virus during pregnancy and the infection with herpes simplex virus that remains latent in the body. It is common to see 2 to 3 ulcers or blisters on the vulva. The course of the disease is short and it heals naturally in about a week. If a pregnant woman is infected with the herpes virus for the first time in early pregnancy (within the first three months of pregnancy) and has obvious symptoms, she is more likely to suffer from miscarriage or stillbirth. If a pregnant woman is infected with the herpes virus for the first time in late pregnancy (the last three months of pregnancy), the virus can be transmitted to the fetus, making the newborn susceptible to neonatal herpes, which may lead to the death of the newborn.