Herpes Simple Virus proctitis: a diagnostic dilemma between anal disorders

Athanasios Syllaios, Spyridon Davakis

PAMJ. 2019; 33:33. Published 16 May 2019 | doi:10.11604/pamj.2019.33.33.17292

A 72-year-old man was referred to our surgical outpatient department because of severe anal pain, anal bleeding and itching for the last 5 days. Clinical examination revealed severe efflorescence with painful ulcers around the anus. Laboratory examinations revealed slightly elevated white blood cells count (WBC's= 13.000). There was taken liquid culture from the ulcer and sent for bacterial and virous analysis. The virus culture was positive for Herpes Simple Virus (HSV) type 2. The patient received valacyclovir 500mg per os for 10 days in order to reduce the risk for expansion of the disease as well as for minimizing the frequency and the duration of the relapses as there is no definite treatment. The patient was relieved from the symptoms and the rushing was diminished approximately ten days after the initiation of the appropriate medication. As a result, a high suspicion from physicians is required to diagnose HSV proctitis and surgeons should be aware of sexually transmitted anal diseases for the early detection and appropriate management of those patients, as patients may first appear to surgical outpatient departments seeking for help.
Corresponding author
Athanasios Syllaios, First Department of Surgery, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece (nh_reas@hotmail.com)


The Pan African Medical Journal (ISSN: 1937-8688) is a subsidiary of the Pan African Medical Journal. The contents of this journal is intended exclusively for professionals in the medical, paramedical and public health and other health sectors.

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