What Is Microbiology - Genital Herpes

​Genital herpes

Genital herpes may present with painful vesicular type lesion which present at the perineum, penis, cervix, vagina and vulva. Patient may present with accompanied symptoms and sign such as lymphadenopathy, malaise, fever and dysuria.Infected patient may also spread the infection without any clinical symptoms.

Genital herpes is caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 and herpes simplex virus type 1. Herpes simplex virus can be detected with Herpes simplex virus type specific fluorescent antibody staining.

The common risk factors of genital herpes may include past history of sexual transmitted disease, early sexual activity and multiple partners for sex. 

The vesicular lesions may present with multinucleated giant cells which can be detected using Tzanck smears.

Herpes simplex virus may cause localized lytic infection which affect the mucosal epithelial cells. Herpes simplex virus will be spreading to the innervating neurons. The herpes simplex virus will caused latent infection after transporting to the dorsal root ganglia.

Reactivation of the infection may occur which may result in the reappearance of the painful vesicular lesions. External factors such as suppression of the immune system and stress and sunlight may reactivated the latent infection which affect the epithelial cells innervated by sensory nerve.

Patient is advised to considered safe sex and barrier contraceptive.The common treatment for genital herpes may include acyclovir, famciclovir and valacycovir.