Herpes simplex virus diseases

See also Overview and Evaluation of Hand Disorders. Herpetic whitlow may cause It is most commonly transmitted during birth through contact with vaginal secretions containing HSV and usually involves HSV Neonatal HSV infection usually develops between the 1st and 4th week of life, often causing mucocutaneous vesicles or central nervous system involvement. It causes major morbidity and mortality. Herpes encephalitis Encephalitis Encephalitis is inflammation of the parenchyma of the brain, resulting from direct viral invasion.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is brain and spinal cord inflammation caused by a hypersensitivity Multiple early seizures are characteristic. Viral meningitis Viral Meningitis Viral meningitis tends to be less severe than acute bacterial meningitis. Findings include headache, fever, and nuchal rigidity. Diagnosis is by cerebrospinal fluid CSF analysis. It is usually self-limited. Lumbosacral myeloradiculitis, typically caused by HSV-2, can occur during primary infection or reactivation of HSV-2 infection and can result in urinary retention or obstipation.

Laboratory confirmation can be helpful, especially if infection is severe, the patient is immunocompromised or pregnant, or lesions are atypical. A Tzanck test a superficial scraping from the base of a freshly ruptured vesicle stained with Wright-Giemsa stain often reveals multinucleate giant cells in HSV or varicella-zoster virus infection.

Definitive diagnosis is with culture, seroconversion involving the appropriate serotype in primary infections , PCR, and antigen detection. Fluid and material for culture should be obtained from the base of a vesicle or of a freshly ulcerated lesion. HSV can sometimes be identified using direct immunofluorescence assay of scrapings of lesions. HSV should be distinguished from herpes zoster Herpes Zoster Herpes zoster is infection that results when varicella-zoster virus reactivates from its latent state in a posterior dorsal root ganglion.

Symptoms usually begin with pain along the affected Clusters of vesicles or ulcers on an erythematous base are unusual in genital ulcers other than those due to HSV infection. Usually acyclovir , valacyclovir , or famciclovir.

For keratitis, topical trifluridine typically in consultation with an ophthalmologist. Treating primary HSV infection with drugs, even if done early, does not prevent the possibility of recurrence. Acyclovir , valacyclovir , or famciclovir can be used to treat infection, especially when it is primary.

Infection with acyclovir -resistant HSV is rare and occurs almost exclusively in immunocompromised patients.

Foscarnet may be effective for acyclovir -resistant infections. Secondary bacterial infections are treated with topical antibiotics eg, mupirocin or neomycin - bacitracin or, if severe, with systemic antibiotics eg, penicillinase-resistant beta-lactams.

Systemic analgesics may help. Gingivostomatitis and pharyngitis may require symptom relief with topical anesthetics eg, dyclonine , benzocaine , viscous lidocaine. NOTE: Lidocaine must not be swallowed because it anesthetizes the oropharynx, the hypopharynx, and possibly the epiglottis.

Children must be watched for signs of aspiration. Severe cases can be treated with acyclovir , valacyclovir , or famciclovir. Herpes labialis responds to oral and topical acyclovir.

Toxicity appears to be minimal. Famciclovir mg as one dose or valacyclovir 2 g orally every 12 hours for 1 day can be used to treat recurrent herpes labialis. Acyclovir -resistant strains are resistant to penciclovir , famciclovir , and valacyclovir.

Herpetic whitlow heals in 2 to 3 weeks without treatment. Topical acyclovir has not been shown to be effective. Oral or IV acyclovir can be used in immunosuppressed patients and those with severe infection.

Treatment of herpes simplex keratitis Treatment Herpes simplex keratitis is corneal infection with herpes simplex virus. Treatment for 14 to 21 days is preferred to prevent potential relapse. Men and women can develop sores on the: Buttocks and thighs Anus Mouth Urethra the tube that allows urine to drain from the bladder to the outside Women can also develop sores in or on the: Vaginal area External genitals Cervix Men can also develop sores in or on the:.

Genital herpes is different for each person. The signs and symptoms may recur, off and on, for years. Some people experience numerous episodes each year. For many people, however, the outbreaks are less frequent as time passes. However, recurrences are generally less painful than the original outbreak, and sores generally heal more quickly. If you suspect you have genital herpes — or any other sexually transmitted infection — see your doctor. Because the virus dies quickly outside of the body, it's nearly impossible to get the infection through contact with toilets, towels or other objects used by an infected person.

The suggestions for preventing genital herpes are the same as those for preventing other sexually transmitted infections: Abstain from sexual activity or limit sexual contact to only one person who is infection-free. Short of that, you can:. If you're pregnant and know you have genital herpes, tell your doctor.

If you think you might have genital herpes, ask to be tested for it. Your doctor may recommend that you start taking herpes antiviral medications late in pregnancy to try to prevent an outbreak around the time of delivery. If you're having an outbreak when you go into labor, your doctor will probably suggest a cesarean section to reduce the risk of passing the virus to your baby.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. This content does not have an English version. Human herpes virus 3 HHV3 is also called varicella-zoster virus. HHV3 causes chickenpox. It can also cause a recurrent virus infection of the skin, which is called herpes zoster or shingles.

Shingles occurs when dormant varicella-zoster virus from an initial bout of chickenpox becomes reactivated. Like its close relative, HHV1, herpes zoster likes to infect skin cells and nerve cells. This virus may also recur along nerve fibre pathways, causing multiple sores where nerve fibres end on skin cells.

Because an entire group of nerve cells is often affected, shingles is generally much more severe than a recurrence of herpes simplex.

The lesions generally appear in a band-like or belt-like pattern occurring on one side of the body and are often accompanied by itching, tingling, or even severe pain.

Healing usually occurs in 2 to 4 weeks, and scars may remain. Postherpetic neuralgia is a complication of shingles where the pain associated with the infection can persist for months and even years. Most people who experience shingles once do not experience it again.

It is the major cause of infectious mononucleosis, or "mono" - the "kissing disease. Coughing, sneezing, or sharing eating utensils with an infected person can pass the virus from one person to another. CMV is also a cause of mononucleosis.

In people with healthy immune systems, the virus may not even cause any symptoms. It can be sexually transmitted, can cause problems to newborns, and can cause hepatitis.