Genital herpes

Treatment should start within 5 days of new lesions or systemic symptoms.

400mg every 8 hours for 5 days

Prescribing Notes:

With any genital symptoms always consider the possibility of sexually transmitted infection (STI). People with risk factors should be screened for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis. Refer the individual and partners to sexual health service. Risk factors: younger patient, a new sexual partner or more than one sexual partner in the past year, lack of consistent condom use and a contact of a sexually transmitted infection.

15/12/2021

East Region Formulary content agreed.

Mild recurrences should be treated symptomatically

Intolerable recurrences

800mg every 8 hours for 2 days

Mild recurrences: treat symptomatically with saline bathing and analgesia.
Frequent recurrences >6 per year, refer to BASHH Guideline anogenital herpes, 2014. Can consider suppressive treatment with aciclovir 400mg twice daily for 6-12 months then review. Refer to BASHH guideline for further information.
With any genital symptoms always consider the possibility of sexually transmitted infection (STI). People with risk factors should be screened for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis. Refer the individual and partners to sexual health service. Risk factors: younger patient, a new sexual partner or more than one sexual partner in the past year, lack of consistent condom use and a contact of a sexually transmitted infection.

15/12/2021

East Region Formulary content agreed.