Abstract
In a study of the prevalence of rectal infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) in a group of homosexual men the magnified appearance of the rectal mucosa correlated with isolation of the virus. HSV was isolated from rectal material from 5 of 77 men with proctitis of unknown cause but from none of 44 control patients without proctitis; 2 of 4 men with HSV proctitis were asymptomatic. The magnified rectal mucosal image, showing severe congestion, hemorrhage and pus, may be a sensitive indicator of the presence of HSV proctitis.