Apparent rarity of asymptomatic herpes cervicitis in a woman with intra-uterine contraceptive device


Submitted: 29 August 2012
Accepted: 14 September 2012
Published: 17 December 2013
Abstract Views: 2003
PDF: 691
HTML: 1671
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Infection with genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) remains a common viral sexually transmitted disease, often subclinical and a major worldwide problem of women of reproductive age group. Herpes cervicitis is an unusual presentation of Herpes simplex virus infection in females. The finding of herpes cervicitis on routine pap smear of an asymptomatic woman on Intrauterine contraceptive device still further supports the need for increased awareness on the possibility of Herpes simplex virus infection among women, particularly those on Intrauterine contraceptive device. The index case is a 28 years old Nigerian female who was referred to our Special Treatment Clinic on account of an abnormal pap smear cytology which was in keeping with Herpes cervicitis. There was no history of genital ulcer in this patient; however ELISA for HSV 2 IgM was positive in her. We therefore describe a case of herpes cervicitis in an asymptomatic woman on intrauterine contraceptive device. This case highlights to clinicians the need to be aware of the possibility of this association and to carry out relevant investigations so as to identify and treat these patients appropriately. Therefore, there is a need to put in place adequate public health intervention strategy to prevent genital herpes in women of reproductive age group with a view to preventing the possibility of congenital herpes in subsequent pregnancy.

Adeola Fowotade, Medical Microbiology Department, University College Hospital; Medical Microbiology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan
LECTURER, CLINICAL VIROLOGY UNIT,DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA
Abu Clement Okolo, Pathology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan
Senior Lecturer, Anatomic Pathology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan
Mohammed Mohammed Manga, Medical Microbiology Department, University College Hospital
Senior registrar,Medical Microbiology Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan
Chinenye Gloria Anaedobe, Medical Microbiology Department, University College Hospital
Senior registrar, Medical Microbiology Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan
Ayodeji Akeem Salami, Pathology Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan
Senior registrar, Anatomic Pathology Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan
Effiong Essien Udo Akang, Pathology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan
Professor, Anatomic Pathology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan

Supporting Agencies

nil

Fowotade, A., Okolo, A. C., Manga, M. M., Anaedobe, C. G., Salami, A. A., & Akang, E. E. U. (2013). Apparent rarity of asymptomatic herpes cervicitis in a woman with intra-uterine contraceptive device. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 4(2), e14. https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2013.e14

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations