Herpes simplex (genital) (Herpes simplex virus)

Clinical criteria
Any person with the following clinical picture: herpes simplex (genital) is a condition characterised by visible, painful genital or anal lesions. Clinical presentation may be atypical.

Laboratory criteria
At least one of the following four:

– Detection of herpes simplex virus nucleic acid (HSV 1 or HSV 2), in clinical specimens from anogenital lesion
– Isolation of herpes simplex virus from cervix, urethra, or anogenital lesion
– Demonstration of virus by antigen detection technique in clinical specimens from cervix, urethra, or anogenital lesion
– Demonstration of multinucleated giant cells on a Tzanck smear of scrapings from an anogenital lesion

– Epidemiological criteria
NA

Case classification
A. Possible case
NA
B. Probable case
A clinically compatible case (in which early infectious syphilis has been excluded by appropriate tests) with either a diagnosis of genital herpes based on clinical presentation (without laboratory confirmation) or a history of one or more previous episodes of similar genital lesions
C. Confirmed case
A clinically compatible case, including an atypical presentation, that is laboratory confirmed 

Current as of: 01 July 2025