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Herpes simplex - genital - Management
Who should be referred with genital herpes?
- Ideally, all people with suspected genital herpes should be referred to a specialist in genito-urinary medicine for diagnosis, treatment, screening for sexually transmitted infections, counselling, and follow up.
- It is essential to refer the following people to the appropriate speciality:
- Pregnant women.
- Immunocompromised individuals.
- People with HIV can be treated in primary care provided that the infection is uncomplicated and not severe. However, prompt referral is indicated if there is no response to treatment (i.e. lesions are still forming after 3–5 days of treatment).
- Those with severe local secondary infection.
- Anyone with systemic herpes infection (e.g. meningitis).
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