Herpes simplex virus infection

On a yearly basis, the need for episodic versus suppressive therapy should be addressed based on the frequency and severity of recurrences, psychological adjustment, and risk for transmission to susceptible partners. Physicians should monitor psychosocial distress secondary to genital herpes. Additionally, the clinical should discuss potentially discordant relationships and the importance of disease transmission prevention.

Patients with genital herpes should be tested for HIV at the time of diagnosis, particularly because recently acquired genital herpes increases the risk of acquiring HIV. Patients should be counselled that infection with genital HSV-2 increases the risk of HIV acquisition.

Patients with herpes labialis do not require any specific follow-up. They should be aware that they may transmit the infection to sexual partners at the oral and genital mucosa during kissing or oral-genital contact.