What is herpes simplex?
Herpes simplex is a common viral infection that presents with localised blistering. It affects most people on one or more occasions during their lives.
Herpes simplex is commonly referred to as cold sores or fever blisters, as recurrences are often triggered by a febrile illness, such as a cold.
What causes herpes simplex?
Herpes simplex is caused by one of two types of herpes simplex virus (HSV), members of the Herpesvirales family of double-stranded DNA viruses.
- Type 1 is mainly associated with oral and facial infections
- Type 2 is mainly associated with genital and rectal infections (anogenital herpes)
However, either virus can affect almost any area of skin or mucous membrane.
After the primary episode of infection, HSV resides in a latent state in spinal dorsal root nerves that supply sensation to the skin. During a recurrence, the virus follows the nerves onto the skin or mucous membranes, where it multiplies, causing the clinical lesion. After each attack and lifelong, it enters the resting state.
During an attack, the virus can be inoculated into new sites of skin, which can then develop blisters as well as the original site of infection.
Who gets herpes simplex?
Primary attacks of Type 1 HSV infections occur mainly in infants and young children. In crowded, underdeveloped areas of the world, nearly all children have been infected by the age of 5. In less crowded places, the incidence is lower, for example less than half of university entrants in Britain have been infected. Type 2 HSV infections occur mainly after puberty, and are often transmitted sexually.
HSV is transmitted by direct or indirect contact with someone with active herpes simplex, which is infectious for 7–12 days. Asymptomatic shedding of the virus in saliva or genital secretions can also lead to transmission of HSV, but this is infrequent, as the amount shed from inactive lesions is 100 to 1000 times less than when it is active. The incubation period is 2–12 days.
Minor injury helps inoculate HSV into the skin. For example:
- A thumb sucker may transmit the virus from their mouth to their thumb.
- A health-care worker may develop herpetic whitlow (paronychia)
- A rugby player may get a cluster of blisters on one cheek (‘scrum pox’).
What are the clinical features of herpes simplex?
Primary herpes simplex
Primary infection with HSV can be mild or subclinical, but symptomatic infection tends to be more severe than recurrences. Type 2 HSV is more often symptomatic than Type 1 HSV.
Primary Type 1 HSV most often presents as gingivostomatitis, in children between 1 and 5 years of age. Symptoms include fever, which may be high, restlessness and excessive dribbling. Drinking and eating are painful and the breath is foul. The gums are swollen and red and bleed easily. Whitish vesicles evolve to yellowish ulcers on the tongue, throat, palate and inside the cheeks. Local lymph glands are enlarged and tender.
The fever subsides after 3–5 days and recovery is usually complete within 2 weeks.
Primary Type 2 HSV usually presents as genital herpes after the onset of sexual activity. Painful vesicles, ulcers, redness and swelling last for 2 to 3 weeks, if untreated, and are often accompanied by fever and tender inguinal lymphadenopathy.
In males, herpes most often affects the glans, foreskin and shaft of the penis. Anal herpes is more common in males who have sex with men than with heterosexual partners.
In females, herpes most often arises on the vulva and in the vagina. It is often painful or difficult to pass urine. Infection of the cervix may progress to severe ulceration.
Recurrent herpes simplex
After the initial infection, whether symptomatic or not, there may be no further clinical manifestations throughout life. Where viral immunity is insufficient, recurrent infections are common, particularly with Type 2 genital herpes.
Recurrences can be triggered by:
- Minor trauma, surgery or procedures to the affected area
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Sun exposure
- Hormonal factors (in women, flares are not uncommon prior to menstruation)
- Emotional stress
In many cases, no reason for the eruption is evident.
The vesicles tend to be smaller and more closely grouped in recurrent herpes, compared to primary herpes. They usually return to roughly the same site as the primary infection.
- Recurrent Type 1 HSV can occur on any site, most frequently the face, particularly the lips (herpes simplex labialis).
- Recurrent Type 2 HSV may also occur on any site, but most often affects the genitals or buttocks.
Itching or burning is followed an hour or two later by an irregular cluster of small, closely grouped, often umbilicated vesicles on a red base. They normally heal in 7–10 days without scarring. The affected person may feel well or suffer from fever, pain and have enlarged local lymph nodes.
Herpetic vesicles are sometimes arranged in a line rather like shingles, and are said to have a zosteriform distribution, particularly when affecting the lower chest or lumbar region.
White patches or scars may occur at the site of recurrent HSV attacks, and are more obvious in those with skin of colour.
Herpes in a netball player
First episode of herpes
© Dr Ph Abimelec – dermatologue
Scarring and blistering on buttock
How is herpes simplex diagnosed?
If there is clinical doubt, HSV can be confirmed by culture or PCR of a viral swab taken from fresh vesicles. HSV serology is not very informative, as it’s positive in most individuals and thus not specific for the lesion with which they present.
What are the complications of herpes simplex?
Herpes simplex may cause swollen eyelids and conjunctivitis with opacity and superficial ulceration of the cornea (dendritic ulcer).
Throat infections may be very painful and interfere with swallowing.
In patients with a history of atopic dermatitis orDarier disease, HSV may result in severe and widespread infection, known as eczema herpeticum. The skin disease can be active or historical. Numerous blisters erupt on the face or elsewhere, associated with swollen lymph glands and fever.
A single episode or recurrent erythema multiforme is an uncommon reaction to herpes simplex. The rash of erythema multiforme appears as symmetrical plaques on hands, forearms, feet and lower legs. It is characterised by target lesions, which sometimes have central blisters.
Cranial/facial nerves may be infected by HSV, producing temporary paralysis of the affected muscles. Rarely, neuralgic pain may precede each recurrence of herpes by 1 or 2 days (Maurice's syndrome). Meningitis is rare.
Disseminated infection and/or persistent ulceration due to HSV can be serious in debilitated or immune deficient patients, eg people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
What is the treatment for herpes simplex?
Mild uncomplicated eruptions of herpes simplex require no treatment. Blisters may be covered if desired, eg with a hydrocolloid patch. Severe infection may require treatment with an antiviral agent.
Antiviral drugs used for herpes simplex and their usual doses are:
- Aciclovir – 200 mg 5 times daily for 5 days
- Valaciclovir – 1 g 3 times daily for 7 days
- Famciclovir – as a single dose of 3 x 500 mg
In New Zealand, valaciclovir and famciclovir are not currently funded by PHARMAC.
Higher doses are used for eczema herpeticum or for disseminated herpes simplex.
Topical aciclovir or penciclovir may shorten attacks of recurrent herpes simplex, provided the cream is started early enough.
Can herpes simplex be prevented?
Antiviral drugs will stop HSV multiplying once it reaches the skin or mucous membranes but cannot eradicate the virus from its resting stage within the nerve cells. They can therefore shorten and prevent attacks but a single course cannot prevent future attacks. Repeated courses may be prescribed or the medication may be taken continuously to prevent frequent attacks.
On DermNet NZ:
- DermNet's page on herpes simplex translated into Finnish
- Genital herpes
- Eczema herpeticum
- Viral skin infections
- Erythema multiforme
- Atopic dermatitis
- Herpes virus pathology
- New Zealand Herpes Foundation
- Dermatologic Manifestations of Herpes Simplex – Medicine Reference
- Viral infections of the mouth – Medscape Reference
- Cold Sores – EmedicineHealth
- Herpes Guide.ca – SkinCareGuide.com
- Herpes Simplex – British Association of Dermatologists
- Herpes Alliance
- Herpes Viruses Association UK
Books about skin diseases:
See the DermNet NZ bookstore