Sudden Onset Painful Mouth Ulcers – Herpes

Mr X returned home from holiday with a ‘mouthful’ of very painful ulcers and swollen lymph glands in his neck. An urgent specialist opinion in the Oral Medicine clinic was arranged. Special tests confirmed the clinical diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Virus infection. Symptomatic treatment was provided and the ulceration settled. The patient was counselled and subsequently underwent testing for other sexually-acquired infections.