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Box 14-1

  • Genital vesicles may not be visualised as they rapidly ulcerate.
  • Prodrome symptoms consist of itching, tingling, and tenderness.
  • Rapid viral detection from scraping the vesicle/ulcer base using electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, or polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  • Genital herpes in pregnancy carries a risk of ophthalmic infection of the infant. Caesarean section may be indicated.
  • 'Eczema herpeticum' occurs in patients with atopic eczema where the HSV disseminates across abnormal skin (Figure 14-4).