HERPES SIMPLEX

IgG

• Negative : < 0.90 OD ratio
• Equivocal : 0.91-1.10 OD ratio
• Positive : >1.11 OD ratio

• Herpes is a common viral infection caused by Herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV exist as two types.HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 causes chiefly oral facial lesions while HSV- 2 causes genital lesions. HSV affects the skin, mucous membranes and less frequently the oesophagus and brain. Skin infections are usually located in the oro-labial, genital, or ano-rectal areas. Oro facial herpes affects the trigeminal ganglion, whereas genital herpes involves the sacral ganglion. Pregnant women have 2-3 times more risk of spontaneous abortion or to deliver premature baby.
• HSV 1 can pass from person to person through skin contact while the sores are open and healing and sometimes when there are no visible sores. HSV 2 is passed through sexual contact and trans placental transmission
• HSV antibody testing detects Immunoglobulin G (IgG) that the body produces in response to a herpes infection. It can detect both HSV1 and HSV 2antibodies. It is useful to determine whether the patient has been exposed to HSV in the past
• HSV PCR method is done in people with active blisters or sores

• When the patient has symptoms of an eye, oral or genital herpes infection, which are usually accompanied by a rash consisting of small blisters or sores, itching or tingling in the affected area is common
• When a patient has symptoms of viral meningitis such as fever, persistent head ache, stiff neck
• New born from a mother who has active blisters may tested soon after delivery
• New born showing active HSV symptoms like meningitis or skin lesions

Signs and symptoms

HSV-1

• Gingivitis
• Stomatitis
• Herpes labial
• Conjunctivitis
• Kaposi sarcoma
• Encephalitis

HSV-2

• Herpes genital-Itching, painful blisters, fever, muscle aches, dysuria, Dysperunia, enlarged lymph nodes in groin
• Herpes oral
• Fetal Wastage
• Birth defects.