Genital Herpes: Complications

The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by genital herpes infection:

Respiratory system (J00-J99)

  • Pneumonia (pneumonia)

Eyes and eye appendages (H00-H59) (primarily HSV-1).

  • Blepharitis (eyelid inflammation).
  • Corneal perforation
  • Corneal ulcer (ulcer)
  • Keratitis (inflammation of the cornea)
  • Conjunctivitis (conjunctivitis)
  • Uveitis (medium inflammation of the skin of the eye)
  • Visual acuity reduction (visual acuity reduction)

Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P00-P96).

  • Herpes neonatorum (almost always HSV-2; neonatal herpes) – transmission of infection to the child during birth (infection via the birth canal) resulting in severe infection of the newborn, which may lead to death of the child; neonatal risk of infection is 40-50% with maternal (mother’s) primary infection in the last 4 weeks before birth

Skin and subcutaneous (L00-L99).

  • Eczema herpeticatum – superinfected dermatosis (skin disease); usually occurs with coexisting atopic eczema (neurodermatitis).
  • Erythema exsudativum multiforme (synonyms: erythema multiforme, cocard erythema, disc rose) – in the upper corium (dermis) occurring acute inflammation, which leads to typical cocard-shaped lesions; a distinction is made between a minor and a major form.

Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

Liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts – pancreas (pancreas) (K70-K77; K80-K87).

  • Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)

Mouth, esophagus (esophagus), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).

  • Gingivostomatitis (inflammation of the mouth and gums) (primarily HSV-1).
  • Esophagitis (esophagitis).

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)

  • Emotional conflicts
  • Herpes encephalitis (HSV encephalitis; brain inflammation) – most common necrotizing encephalitis (approximately 50%).
    • 30% after primary infection
    • – 70% as recurrent herpes
    • High lethality (mortality rate; up to 70%); many surviving patients retain residuals
  • Meningitis (meningitis).

Genitourinary system (kidneys, urinary tract – reproductive organs) (N00-N99).

  • Balanitis (acorn inflammation).
  • Renal insufficiency (kidney weakness)
  • Prostatitis (prostatitis)
  • Urethritis (inflammation of the urethra)
  • Vulvovaginitis herpetica – inflammation caused by herpes viruses, which affects the vulva (set of external primary sexual organs) and vagina (vagina) together.