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Herpes, Genital

Cecilia M Kipnis, MD Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Chronic, recurrent herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or 2 infection of any area innervated by the sacral ganglia

  • HSV-1 causes anogenital and orolabial lesions

  • HSV-2 causes anogenital l...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Many patients are asymptomatic (74% of HSV-1 and 63% of HSV-2) or do not recognize clinical manifestations of disease (2).

  • If symptoms are present during primary episode, they are oft...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Ice packs to perineum, sitz baths, topical anesthetics

  • Analgesics, NSAIDs

MEDICATION

Start antiviral medications within 72 hours of onset of symptoms (including prodrome). After...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Test for HIV and other STIs. 

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • Patient education helps in treatment of subsequent outbreaks and to reduce risk of transmission:

    • Op...

REFERENCES

1
Nath P, Kabir MA, Doust SK, Ray A. Diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Virus: Laboratory and Point-of-Care Techniques. Infect Dis Rep. 2021 Jun 2;13(2):518-539.
2
Hofstetter  ...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Dhankani V, Kutz JN, Schiffer JT. Herpes simplex virus-2 genital tract shedding is not predictable over months or years in infected persons. PLoSComput Bi...

SEE ALSO

Algorithm: Genital Ulcers 

CODES

ICD10

  • A60 Anogenital herpesviral [herpes simplex] infections

  • A60.02 Herpesviral infection of other male genital organs

  • A60.0 Herpesviral infection of genitalia and urogenital tract

  • A60.9 Anogenital ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Genital herpes is caused by HSV-1 and/or HSV-2.

  • Many seropositive individuals are unaware that they are infected.

  • Most primary episodes are asymptomatic.

  • Viral shedding occurs in the abse...

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