How is genital herpes diagnosed?

Some people have many small particles on their genitals but they don’t realize that they may have a skin or sexually transmitted disease. They don’t seek treatment until they feel it is serious. So how should genital herpes be diagnosed?

Method for confirming genital herpes: Genital herpes often occurs at the junction of the skin and mucous membrane. First, the local skin becomes slightly red, and then groups of small blisters the size of a needle tip appear, with a mild itching and burning sensation. After a few days, they dry up and form brown scabs. There is slight pigmentation after the scab falls off, but it disappears quickly. The entire course of the disease lasts an average of one week, but recurrences are common.

The second method for confirming genital herpes: cytological examination of herpes virus: take cells for smear, add fluorescently labeled HSV-1 and HSV-2 monoclonal antibodies, and find the virus inclusion bodies emitting apple green fluorescence in the multinucleated giant cells under the fluorescence microscope to identify genital herpes.

The third method for confirming genital herpes: serological examination: It is mainly used to detect anti-HSV-1 and anti-HSV-2 antibodies, diagnose primary HSV infection, and conduct serological epidemiological surveys on HSV infection. It can be detected by immunofluorescence test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoblotting test and radioimmunoassay. In modern times, HSV-2gD2 glycoprotein is used as an antigen to detect anti-HSV-2 antibodies, and HSV-1gDl or gC glycoprotein is used as an antigen to detect anti-HSV-1 antibodies. It has high sensitivity and can distinguish between anti-HSV-1 and anti-HSV-2 antibodies. However, this type of examination can only indicate that the patient has had an explicit or latent HSV infection.

Method 4 for confirming genital herpes: The incubation period of primary genital herpes infection is about 3 to 5 days. The affected area first has a burning sensation and erythema appears. Soon, 3 to 10 small blisters distributed in clusters will occur on the surface of the erythema. After a few days, they become small pustules. After rupture, erosions and shallow ulcers are formed. The area is red and swollen, and there is a burning pain. In female patients, the disease often occurs on the labia, around the anus, and in the vagina, but about 90% of patients may also invade the cervix and cause cervicitis or metritis; in male patients, the disease often occurs on the glans penis, coronal sulcus, urethral orifice, or penis body, and may sometimes be complicated by urethritis. Most patients have bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy.