Herpes simplex (genital) (Herpes simplex virus)

Clinical criteria
Any person with the following clinical picture: herpes simplex (genital) is a condition characterised by visible, painful genital or anal lesions. Clinical presentation may be atypical.

Laboratory criteria
At least one of the following four:
- Isolation of herpes simplex virus from cervix, urethra, or anogenital lesion
- Demonstration of virus by antigen detection technique in clinical specimens from cervix, urethra, or anogenital lesion
- Demonstration of multinucleated giant cells on a Tzanck smear of scrapings from an anogenital lesion
- Serological type specific antibody to HSV type 1 or type 2 virus

Epidemiological criteria
NA

Case classification
A. Possible case
NA
B. Probable case
A clinically compatible case (in which primary and secondary syphilis have been excluded by appropriate serologic tests and darkfield microscopy, when available) with either a diagnosis of genital herpes based on clinical presentation (without laboratory confirmation) or a history of one or more previous episodes of similar genital lesions
C. Confirmed case
A clinically compatible case, including an atypical presentation, that is laboratory confirmed 

Current as of: 24 January 2019