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Genital herpes clinical management guidelines

AHMF clinical guidelines provide diagnosis and management information for conditions caused by herpesviruses.

  • Counselling and communication skills for patients with genital herpes
    Mar 2000
    May 2009

    While good communication and counselling skills play an important part in the management of all kinds of patient difficulties, for the patient with genital herpes, or any sexually transmissible infection, they are particularly important.

  • Short course therapy for recurrrent herpes simplex
    Sep 2008
    May 2009

    Short (two-day) course treatment for recurrent genital herpes was approved in Australia in 2008. If patient-initiated at the onset of symptoms, this form of treatment can be as effective as the more established five-day course.

  • Managing genital herpes
    Sep 1998
    May 2009

    Genital herpes is under-recognised and under-treated.More than three-quarters of people with genital herpes simplex virus infection do not receive appropriate therapy for their condition because the infection has not been recognised or properly diagnosed.

  • Reducing the sexual transmission of genital herpes
    Mar 2004
    May 2009

    People diagnosed with genital herpes usually have many questions and concerns, a key one being anxiety about possible transmission of the infection to a partner. Similarly, an uninfected partner is often anxious about the possibility of acquiring genital herpes from the infected person.

  • The diagnosis of herpes simplex viruses
    Jun 2006
    May 2009

    HSV infections are often diagnosed clinically, but laboratory diagnosis is required for prescribing antiviral medications under Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Diagnosis can be confirmed with one of four methods in Australia: viral isolation, direct antigen detection, PCR and type-specific serology.

  • Type-specific serology for the diagnosis of genital herpes
    Sep 2000
    May 2009

    There are now a number of simple commercially available ELISA tests for type-specific HSV infection. These test are relatively simple to perform in the laboratory, and are now being produced by a number of companies.

  • Herpes simplex in pregnancy
    Jun 2004
    May 2009

    Vertical transmission of HSV from mother to child can result in neonatal herpes, a rare condition—but with very high mortality. This guidelines examines strategies for reducing the incidence of this condition.

  • Suppressive therapy for genital herpes
    May 2008
    May 2009

    Most genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), although herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) accounts for half the new cases in developed countries. The major concern of HSV is its frequency of recurrences, its chronicity and its effects on patient personal relationships while asymptomatic shedding is an important source of transmission of the virus to other susceptible individuals.

  • HSV in HIV-Infected individuals
    Sep 2008
    May 2009

    There are a number of ways in which HSV and HIV interact, first to enhance transmission of both viruses, and second in a number of clinical manifestations.

Disclaimer

The AHMF have made considerable efforts to ensure the information upon which this guideline is based reproduces the evidence as accurately as possible. Users of this guideline are strongly recommended to confirm that the information contained within it, especially drug indications, is correct by way of independent sources, as this guideline does not indicate an exclusive course of action or serve as a standard of medical care. The AHMF accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or success of any treatment regime detailed in this guideline.

Australian Herpes Management Forum, c/- STIRC, Marian Villa, Westmead Hospital, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia.

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