Recurrent conjugal neuralgia caused by Herpesvirus hominis type 2

Abstract

Leg neuralgia is usually caused by nerve root irritation, and is seldom considered of viral origin. Two married couples had recurrent leg pain in a dermatome distribution. In each episode, after one to three days of neuralgia, herpetic vesicles appear on or near the genitalia. Herpesvirus hominis (HVH) was isolated from vesicles or cervix in three patients and was serologically identified as herpesvirus honinis type 2. Prolonged follow-up has not shown progression of the syndrome or any permanent neurologic damage. Treatment with topical neutral red and photoinactivation has not only reduced local lesion healing time and frequency of attacks, but it has also given prompt relief of neuralgia.