HSV-2 is the causative agent of most herpes infections that occur below the waist. While it is transmitted mainly by sexual contact, it may also be passed on to a newborn from an infected mother. Lesions on exposed dry areas tend to remain pustular or vesicular and then crust over. Painful regional lymphadenopathy accompanies the infection, along with headache, malaise, and symptoms of fever. These subside in about 2 weeks, with healing in 3-5 weeks 3 .
All herpetic lesions are highly infectious, regardless of the state they are in.
In that no definitive treatment or cure exists, treatment is of a symptomatic and palliative nature. In the absence of oral lesions, any necessary dental work may be provided. If oral lesions are present, elective treatment should be delayed to avoid inadvertent inoculation of adjacent sites and aerosol or droplet inoculation of the conjunctivae of either the patient, dentist, or dental staff. A problem of particular concern to dentists is herpectic infection of the nail beds, contracted by finger contact with a herpetic lesion of the lip or oral cavity of a patient. It is serious, debilitating, and recurrent.