Final answer:
The nurse should educate the client with genital herpes on the crucial need to inform partners, the continuous risk of transmission despite the absence of lesions, and the importance of maintaining safer-sex practices to prevent further STI transmission, including HIV.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse educating a client with genital herpes should emphasize the importance of informing his partners of the disease. It is crucial to note that genital herpes, often caused by the herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), can be transmitted even when visible lesions are not present, as the virus can be shed from normal appearing body surfaces. Additionally, safer-sex practices, including the use of condoms, should not be disregarded even after infection, due to the risk of transmitting other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the potential for increased HIV transmission when sores are present.
While no cure exists for herpes infections, antiviral medications can help prevent or shorten outbreaks and reduce the chance of transmission. Pregnant women with genital herpes should be prescribed antiviral medication, especially towards the end of pregnancy, to reduce the chance of an outbreak during birth, as there is a high risk of transmitting the virus to the infant during childbirth.