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Herpes simplex - genital - Management
How should I treat someone with genital herpes when a referral is not possible?
- Prescribe oral aciclovir (200 mg five times a day) within 5 days of the start of the episode or while new lesions are forming. Continue for 5 days, or longer if new lesions are still forming while on treatment.
- Self-care measures may be useful for some people. If appropriate, advise the person to:
- Clean the affected area with plain or salt water to help prevent secondary infection and promote healing of lesions.
- Apply vaseline or a topical anaesthetic (e.g. lidocaine 5%) to lesions to help with painful micturition, if required.
- Increase fluid intake to produce dilute urine (which is less painful to void). Urinate in a bath or with water flowing over the area to reduce stinging.
- Avoid wearing tight clothing, which may irritate lesions.
- Take adequate pain relief (e.g. oral paracetamol).
- Avoid sharing towels and flannels with household members (although it is very unlikely that the virus would survive on an object long enough to be passed on, it is sensible to take steps to prevent this).
- Advise all people to abstain from sex (including non-penetrative and orogenital sex) until follow up, or until lesions have cleared.
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