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Herpes, Genital

Sahil Mullick, FAAFP, MD and Sreelakshmi Surendran Pillai, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


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...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

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

  • Symptoms present during primary episode are often more sever...

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

Counsel persons with genital herpes and their sex partners with goal of helping patients cope with the infection and preventing sexual and perinatal transmission. 

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES

1
Nath P, Kabir MA, Doust SK, et al. Diagnosis of herpes simplex virus: laboratory and point-of-care techniques. Infect Dis Rep. 2021;13(2):518–539.
2
Rogan SC, Beigi RH Management of viral co...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Management of Genital Herpes in Pregnancy: ACOG Practice Bulletin. No. 220. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135(5):e193-e202.

  • Spicknall IH, Flagg EW, Torrone EA. Estimates o...

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

  • HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 cause genital herpes.

  • Many seropositive individuals are unaware that they are infected.

  • Most primary episodes are asymptomatic.

  • Viral shedding occurs in the absence of ...

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