Genital herpes online: suppression and outbreak treatment
Herpes (HSV-1, HSV-2) is one of the cleanest telehealth use cases. Diagnosis is usually clinical (visible lesion) or based on prior known infection. Treatment is daily suppressive or episodic. Stigma is the largest barrier to care, and telehealth removes the in-person appointment that prevents many people from seeking help.
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Suppressive vs episodic therapy
Suppressive (daily) therapy: valacyclovir 500mg-1g/day, reduces outbreaks by ~80% and transmission to partners by ~50%. Episodic therapy: same medication, taken at the first sign of an outbreak, shortens duration. Choice depends on outbreak frequency and partner status.
Medication options
Acyclovir (oldest, cheapest, 3-5x daily dosing), valacyclovir (preferred, 1-2x daily, $15-30/month generic), famciclovir (similar to valacyclovir, often slightly more expensive). All are well-tolerated, very safe long-term.
Telehealth specifics
Most telehealth platforms handle initial diagnosis (if photo-documented or based on clear history), confirmatory testing referral, suppressive prescriptions, and partner-notification counseling. They typically don't handle severe outbreaks requiring IV antivirals or complicated cases with HIV co-infection.