Herpes Simplex

Herpes simplex is a contagious skin disease caused by HSV. Clustered grouped small vesicles on skin/mucosa, mainly face/genitalia, recurrent; mild systemic symptoms. Herpetic encephalitis/disseminated disease can be severe/life-threatening. HSV causes intrauterine infection and congenital anomalies—one TORCH cause.

Common Symptoms

Bleeding tendency; hand/foot vesicles; septicemia; zosteriform appearance; constipation; convulsion; small hand vesicles; nausea; toxemia

Causes and Pathogenesis

(1) Etiology: HSV, Herpesviridae α-herpesvirinae, Simplexvirus; HSV-1 (above waist, face/brain) and HSV-2 (below waist, genital). Spherical, icosahedral 162-capsomere nucleocapsid, linear dsDNA 152 kb; 47-50% homology between HSV-1/2; encodes ≥70 proteins; envelope glycoproteins (gG distinguishes 1/2). Resistant: 56°C/30 min, UV/ether kill; -70°C stable. Grows in fibroblasts/epithelial cells. (2) Pathogenesis: local replication then ascent to ganglia (latency 2-3 days); reactivation by triggers leads to peripheral spread. Cowdry A intranuclear eosinophilic inclusions; multinucleated giant cells; thin-walled vesicles with erythematous halo. Neonates/immunocompromised can develop viremia/disseminated disease; encephalitis/neonatal dissemination has marked organ congestion/hemorrhagic necrosis.

Treatment

Drug therapy, supportive therapy

Preventive Measures

Avoid contact for neonates/immunocompromised/eczema patients; cesarean for pregnant genital HSV; abstain during outbreaks; regular Pap smears for recurrent vulvar HSV. Isolate nursery cases; amniotic fluid HSV-IgM for women with recent genital HSV history; isolate mother/baby. Premarital exams; safe sex; condoms; acyclovir after transplantation; avoid triggers; vaccine in clinical trials.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Infectious Diseases department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.