Herpes Simplex (HSV): ABFM practice questions

4 board-style questions on herpes simplex (hsv) in the PulseMD family medicine question bank — physician-reviewed, written against current guidelines with the reference cited on each question. Two free samples below; the full set with answers, explanations, and spaced review is free to start.

Sample question 1

A 22-year-old man presents with acute onset of targetoid lesions on the palms and dorsal hands that developed 10 days after a cold sore on his lower lip. He has a few oral erosions but is able to eat and drink. The lesions are symmetrically distributed on the extremities. He has no fever and no involvement of eyes or genitalia. Vital signs are normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?

1. Urticaria multiforme
2. Erythema multiforme minor
3. Fixed drug eruption
4. Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Sample question 2

A 33-year-old woman has had six recurrences of genital herpes in the past year, each causing significant distress and missed work. She asks about management options. Which counseling statement is most accurate?

1. Antivirals only shorten first episodes and cannot help recurrent disease
2. Surgical ablation of affected skin prevents future recurrences
3. Recurrences this frequent indicate treatment-resistant virus requiring biopsy
4. Daily suppressive antiviral therapy reduces recurrences and transmission risk

Create a free PulseMD account to answer these, see the explanations, and practice five minutes a day.

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