Herpes Simplex Varicella and Zoster: Clinical Manifestations and Treatment.

Abstract

Few viruses display the multiple clinical manifestations or the complexity of virus-host interaction as the herpesviruses. The manifestations of infections with herpes simplex virus may range from encephalitis to inapparent illness. The virus may remain latent for years and recurrent lesions develop for yet undefined reasons. Antibodies develop against the virus but reinfection is possible. More recently, it has become apparent that patients whose immune mechanisms are compromised by certain types of malignancies, malnutrition, or drug therapy are susceptible to severe life-threatening infections by members of the herpesvirus group. Finally, several herpesviruses may be etiologically related to human malignancies. For these reasons, there is considerable interest among practitioners and researchers in the herpesviruses. The human herpesviruses include herpes simplex viruses type 1 and type 2, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus and EB virus. The authors of the book have confined their topics to the herpes simplex viruses, varicella-zoster virus, and to a