Genital herpes is the most common ulcerative sexually transmitted infection Overview of Sexually Transmitted Infections Sexually transmitted infection (STI) refers to infection with a pathogen that is transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or other body fluids during oral, anal, or genital sex with... read more in developed countries. It is caused by human herpesviruses 1 (HSV-1) or 2 (HSV-2), which are two of the eight types of herpesviruses that infect humans. (See Overview of Herpesvirus Infections Overview of Herpesvirus Infections Eight types of herpesviruses infect humans ( see Table: Herpesviruses That Infect Humans). After initial infection, all herpesviruses remain latent within specific host cells and may subsequently... read more .)
After the initial infection, HSV remains dormant in nerve ganglia, from which it can periodically emerge. When the virus emerges, it may or may not cause symptoms (ie, genital lesions). Transmission may occur through contact with the lesions or, more often, via skin-to-skin contact with sex partners when lesions are not apparent (called asymptomatic shedding).
Pregnant women with genital herpes can transmit HSV (usually HSV-2) to the fetus or neonate. Typically, HSV is transmitted during delivery via contact with vaginal secretions containing HSV. The virus is rarely transmitted transplacentally. Mothers with primary (newly acquired) HSV genital infection have a higher risk of transmitting HSV to the neonate. Most women who transmit HSV to neonates do not have symptoms of HSV infection at the time of delivery. Neonatal HSV infection Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection is usually transmitted during delivery. A typical sign is vesicular eruption, which may be accompanied by or progress to disseminated disease. Diagnosis... read more 
is a serious, potentially fatal infection.
Symptoms and Signs of Genital Herpes
Most cases of primary genital herpes do not cause noticeable symptoms; many people infected with HSV-2 do not know that they have genital herpes.
Primary genital lesions develop 4 to 7 days after contact. The vesicles usually erode to form ulcers that may coalesce. Lesions may occur in the following locations:
On the prepuce, glans penis, and penile shaft in men
On the labia, clitoris, perineum, vagina, and cervix in women
Around the anus and in the rectum in men or women who engage in receptive rectal intercourse
This photo shows pustules in primary genital herpes of the vulva.
© Springer Science+Business Media
This photo shows ulcerations in the vulva that are caused by genital herpes.
© Springer Science+Business Media
This photo shows vesicles and ulcers in the vulva of a woman with recurrent genital herpes.
© Springer Science+Business Media
This photo shows a cluster of vesicles on the penile shaft in a man with genital herpes.
© Springer Science+Business Media
This photo shows groups and clusters of vesicles and ulcers in a man with primary genital herpes.
© Springer Science+Business Media
This photo shows widespread ulceration of the penis and scrotum due to coalescence of smaller lesions in a man with severe genital herpes infection.
© Springer Science+Business Media
Urinary hesitancy, dysuria, urinary retention, constipation, or severe sacral neuralgia may occur.
Scarring may follow healing. The lesions recur in 80% of patients with HSV-2 and in 50% of those with HSV-1.
Primary genital lesions are usually more painful, prolonged, and widespread, involve regional adenopathy, and are more likely to be accompanied by constitutional symptoms than recurrent genital lesions. Recurrent lesions tend to be milder and cause fewer symptoms.
Diagnosis of Genital Herpes
Clinical evaluation
Culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Serologic testing
Diagnosis of genital herpes is often clinical based on characteristic lesions; clusters of vesicles or ulcers on an erythematous base are unusual in genital ulcers other than those due to HSV. However, these lesions are absent in many patients.
Tests for HSV should be done to confirm the diagnosis if it is not clear.
Testing is usually done using a sample of fluid from the base of a vesicle or of a newly ulcerated lesion, if present. Absence of HSV in culture, especially in patients without active lesions, does not rule out HSV infection because viral shedding is intermittent. Also, culture has limited sensitivity; PCR is more sensitive and is being used increasingly.
Direct immunofluorescence with fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibodies is sometimes available; it is specific but not sensitive.
Serologic tests can accurately detect HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies, which develop during the first several weeks after infection and then persist. Thus, if genital herpes is thought to be recently acquired, tests may have to be repeated to allow time for seroconversion.
HSV serologic testing should be considered for the following;
To evaluate patients who have no suspicious genital lesions but who require or request evaluation (eg, because of past genital lesions or high-risk behaviors)
To help determine risk of developing lesions
To identify pregnant women who do not have genital lesions but are at risk of transmitting herpes to the neonate during delivery
To determine whether a person is susceptible to infection from a sex partner with genital herpes
Treatment of Genital Herpes
Acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir
Genital herpes is treated with antiviral drugs.
Primary eruptions can be treated with one of the following:
Acyclovir 400 mg orally 3 times a day for 7 to 10 days
Valacyclovir 1 g orally every 12 hours for 7 to 10 days
Famciclovir 250 mg orally 3 times a day for 7 to 10 days
These drugs reduce viral shedding and symptoms in severe primary infections. However, even early treatment of primary infections does not prevent recurrences.
In recurrent eruptions, symptom duration and severity can be reduced marginally by antiviral treatment, particularly during the prodromal phase. Recurrent eruptions can be treated with one of the following:
Acyclovir 400 mg orally 3 times a day for 5 days
Valacyclovir 500 mg orally every 12 hours for 3 days
Famciclovir 1000 mg orally every 12 hours for 1 day
For frequent eruptions (eg, > 6 eruptions a year), suppressive antiviral therapy with one of the following may be used:
Acyclovir 400 mg orally every 12 hours
Valacyclovir 500 to 1000 mg orally once a day
Famciclovir 250 mg orally every 12 hours
Doses should be adjusted for renal insufficiency. Adverse effects are infrequent with oral administration but may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and rash.
Topical antiviral drugs have only little value, and their use is discouraged.
Evaluation of sex partners of patients with genital herpes is important.
Prevention of Genital Herpes
The best ways to avoid genital herpes are
Abstaining from sexual contact (vaginal, anal, and oral sex)
Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is not infected
Risk of genital herpes can by reduced by
Using latex condoms correctly and consistently
However, condoms do not cover all areas that can be affected and thus do not fully protect against genital herpes.
Patients with genital herpes should abstain from sexual activity when they have lesions or other herpes symptoms. Patients should be reminded that they can transmit the infection even when they do not have any symptoms.
Preventing neonatal HSV infection
Efforts to prevent neonatal transmission have not been very effective. Universal screening has not been recommended or shown to be effective.
Clinicians should ask all pregnant women whether they have had genital herpes and should emphasize the importance of not contracting herpes during pregnancy.
If women have herpes symptoms (eg, active genital lesions) when labor begins, cesarean delivery is recommended to prevent transmission to the neonate. Pregnant women with genital herpes can be given acyclovir starting at 36 weeks gestation to reduce the risk of a recurrence and thus the need for cesarean delivery.
Fetal scalp monitors should be avoided during labor on infants whose mothers have a history of genital herpes.
Key Points
After the initial infection, HSV remains dormant in nerve ganglia, from which it can periodically emerge.
Transmission may occur through contact with the lesions, but viral shedding and transmission can also occur when lesions are not apparent (asymptomatic shedding).
Most initial infections do not cause symptoms, but primary genital lesions are usually more painful, prolonged, and widespread than recurrent genital lesions.
Diagnose based on characteristic genital lesions in patients with lesions and confirm by culture, PCR, and/or serologic tests for HSV.
Primary and recurrent eruptions can be treated with acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir.
If pregnant women have genital herpes, consider giving acyclovir starting at 36 weeks gestation to reduce the risk of a recurrence and transmission to the neonate during delivery.
More Information
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Drug Name | Select Trade |
|---|---|
fluorescein |
AK-Fluor, Fluorescite, Fluorets , Fluor-I-Strip, Fluor-I-Strip A.T., Ful-Glo, Ophthalmicflur |
acyclovir |
SITAVIG, Zovirax, Zovirax Cream, Zovirax Ointment, Zovirax Powder, Zovirax Suspension |
valacyclovir |
Valtrex |
famciclovir |
Famvir |
