Diagnosis of HSV disease
When it’s easy
- herpes labialis
- herpes genitalis presumptive diagnosis based on appearance
- ocular herpes
-
When it’s difficult
- People with undiagnosed STDs or genital symptoms want answers:
- if you do an ELISA to test for antibodies to HSV >> usually positive
- This does NOT mean that HSV is causing their problem!!
- Herpes simplex encephalitis - often misdiagnosed!!
- Neonatal HSV infections - no time to spare!!