management
Last edited 07/2021 and last reviewed 07/2021
Diagnosis is made on the basis of the clinical picture supported by virus culture - results usually available in two days.
Treatment:
- symptomatic:
- analgesia
- saline baths
- first-episode:
- oral aciclovir 400mg TDS for 5 days OR
- valaciclovir 500mg BD for 5 days OR
- famciclovir 250mg TDS for 5 days
- recurrent episodes:
- oral aciclovir 800mg TDS for 2 days OR
- famciclovir 1000mg BD for 1 day
- rarely admission to hospital for catheterisation (much more likely in women)
- primary or first-episode
genital herpes is managed via referral to the genitourinary medicine clinic
-
interventions to prevent sexual transmission of herpes simplex virus
- interventions
that are likely to be beneficial include (2):
- male condom use to prevent sexual transmission from infected men to uninfected sexual partners
- antiviral treatment of infected sexual partner (reduced transmission to uninfected partner) - seek genitourinary medicine specialist advice
- interventions
that are likely to be beneficial include (2):
Key points (1):
- Advise: saline bathing, analgesia, topical lidocaine for pain, and discuss transmission
- First episode: treat within 5 days if new lesions or systemic symptoms, and refer to GUM
- Recurrent: self-care if mild, or immediate short course antiviral treatment, or suppressive therapy if more than 6 episodes per year
Reference: