Treatment, Prevention and Control

Abstract

The recent development of specific safe and highly efficacious chemotherapy (in particular acyclovir) has revolutionised the treatment of HSV infections. Prior to the introduction of acyclovir, treatment was limited largely to the use of extremely toxic drugs for the management of severe infections and also symptomatic treatment for the milder manifestations of the various diseases (including labial and genital herpes). In this chapter I review the pharmacology, toxicity and clinical uses of antiviral drugs for the treatment of all aspects, of HSV infection, including labial, genital, ocular, disseminated, neonatal and cerebral infections. In addition to a consideration of antiviral chemotherapy, I also review the role of immune modulation, the potential production and efficacy of vaccines to prevent genital or oral herpes, the management of genital herpes in pregnancy, the importance of health education in the control of herpes, and the management of the psychological problems associated with genital herpes.