How to detect genital herpes

Patients with genital herpes must pay attention to active examinations and correctly determine whether they are affected by this disease. Generally, current tests include antibody testing and cytology testing. When the body shows these genital herpes symptoms, they must be responded to correctly.

1. Antibody detection method:

The commonly used Western blotting method uses antigen to detect antibodies, has the advantage of high sensitivity, and can distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2.

2. Cytological examination

A small amount of tissue is scraped from the base of the ulcer or the surface of the ulcer to make a smear, which is then stained and observed. This method cannot distinguish between HSV infection and varicella-zoster virus infection and is not very sensitive to viruses.

3. Cell culture method:

Taking samples from the bottom of the blisters for tissue culture and isolating the virus is currently a relatively sensitive and specific detection method. However, due to its high technical requirements and high price, it cannot be used as a common diagnostic method.

4. Antigen detection method:

This method has high sensitivity and specificity, and has a high diagnostic ability, which greatly improves the diagnosis rate. However, this method is expensive and is prone to false positives due to factors such as operating techniques, which will also affect clinical diagnosis.

5. Symptoms

1. Genital herpes often appears in the genitals or perianal area. Patients have no conscious symptoms or only slight itching. Genital herpes is more common in the coronal sulcus and the inner side of the foreskin in men, and more common in the vaginal opening and labia in women. It can also be seen around the urethral opening and anus of both men and women.

2. Genital herpes also often occurs on the surface of mucous membranes, mostly pink or grayish white, and genital herpes on the skin is mostly gray-brown or grayish white. Some genital herpes are granular or lobed, with a little secretion.

3. Common symptoms of genital herpes are multiple papules, small blisters or pustules on the vulva, followed by erosion and ulceration. Its shape is varied, the most common ones are cauliflower-shaped, nipple-shaped, and papular-shaped.

4. The first onset of the disease may also be accompanied by systemic discomfort, such as fever and headache. If the disease recovers on its own, it may relapse again due to mental stress, overwork, etc.