Slide 10
Atypically sited lesions in HSV-2 infection

This slide shows the appearance of florid HSV-2 lesions behind the left knee. The patient had attended the clinic previously with non-specific genital symptoms and although swabs had been taken from vulval lesions, all these tests for HSV by culture had proven negative. When the patient re-attended with further vulval symptoms, a sticking plaster (band-aid) was noted over the back of her left knee and, on removal, showed typical HSV-2 lesions which were confirmed on virus culture. It is important that clinicians looking after patients with genital symptoms take the time to ask about other cutaneous symptoms and examine other parts of the patient’s body for signs of dermatological conditions or infectious diseases.