What is the difference between genital herpes and glans eczema?

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus infecting the external genitalia and the skin and mucous membranes around the anus. Balanus eczema is a special type of eczema, which is mostly caused by local irritation or pathogen infection. How to differentiate between genital herpes and glans eczema?

Difference between genital herpes and eczema

Genital herpes is common in the male glans, coronal sulcus, foreskin, penis, etc. The skin lesions can appear as several millet-sized papules and blisters, which can merge into pieces and break into erosions or ulcers after 2 to 4 days. Patients feel burning, itching and pain. Balanus eczema is divided into acute and chronic types. The acute eczema rash is polymorphic, symmetrically distributed, and has a tendency to exudate; the chronic eczema lesions are lichenified, and patients experience severe itching.

The early skin lesions of genital herpes and glans eczema have similar symptoms, and it is not easy to distinguish the two based on the symptoms. However, genital herpes often has a history of unclean sexual life before the onset of the disease. Therefore, the patient's medical history should be asked in detail, and attention should be paid to the way of communication. The patient should be told not to deliberately conceal the truth, and their privacy will be protected, and the patient's cooperation should be obtained as much as possible. In order to distinguish genital herpes from glans eczema, cytology, polymerase chain reaction or herpes simplex virus serum antibody test can be performed, and a positive result can be confirmed as genital herpes.

Warm reminder: Before the diagnosis is confirmed, do not use adrenal cortical hormone drugs indiscriminately to avoid masking the condition.