Retention of urine in genital herpetic infection. Survey and case report

During the last years several cases of acute urinary retention, due to genital herpetic infection, have been described, especially in youngsters. The condition is caused by neurogenic dysfunction due to a sacral meningomyelitis. The clinical picture before the acute attack is characterized by painful genital eruptions; fever and malaise; tender inguinal lymph nodes; paresthesia in the perineum and on the inside of the thigh, and obstipation. Skin and mucous membrane manifestations are often sparse or located so that they are easily overlooked. The treatment is bladder drainage until the patient is able to void spontaneously. Most of the patients regain normal bladder function within 10 days, but bladder dysfunction for 5 weeks has been described. We present a typical case of acute urinary retention due to genital herpetic infection.