Genital herpes simplex and herpes zoster infections are common afflictions that are associated with significant morbidity and a decreased quality of life. Famciclovir (Famvir, Novartis) is an orally administered prodrug of the antiviral agent penciclovir. Its unique pharmacokinetic profile makes it an efficacious, convenient and well-tolerated alternative to the traditionally prescribed acyclov...

BACKGROUND Virus isolation in cell culture is the recognised diagnostic gold standard for genital herpes. Although increasing evidence indicates that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) provides a more rapid and sensitive diagnostic method, its implementation in routine diagnostic settings has been limited by concerns over contamination and cost. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility of replacing...

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection of the neonate is uncommon, but genital herpes infections in adults are very common. Thus, although treating an infant with neonatal herpes is a relatively rare occurrence, managing infants potentially exposed to HSV at the time of delivery occurs more frequently. The risk of transmitting HSV to an infant during delivery is determined in part by the mother’s...

To investigate whether asymptomatic shedding of herpes simplex virus occurs in women with recurrent genital herpes, six women with documented disease were followed up twice weekly with viral cultures and pelvic examination. During the study period of 1330 patient days and 452 patient visits, 26 episodes of genital herpesvirus infection were recorded. Twenty-three (88%) episodes were accompanied...

herpes simplex virus type 1 (hsv-1) with a worldwide distribution has been reported in all human populations, resulting in a clinical spectrum of infections. although hsv type 2 (hsv-2) is known as the most common cause of genital herpes, an increasing number of cases with genital herpes are caused by hsv-1. the present study aimed to discuss the changes in the epidemiology of hsv-1 infection i...

Case report A 32 year old married woman attended the genitourinary medicine clinic at Hertford County Hospital, requesting investigation for genital herpes. She previously had a normal delivery with an episiotomy in 1984. She complained of soreness in the vagina lasting 4–5 days every month for 3 years, ever since she had a total hysterectomy in March 1994. The symptoms usually started about th...

After replication at sites of initial inoculation, herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) establish lifelong latent infections of the sensory and autonomic neurons of the ganglia serving those sites. Periodically, the virus reactivates from these neurons, and travels centripetally along the neuronal axon to cause recurrent epithelial infection. The major clinically observed differe...

An immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody avidity assay which uses protein-denaturing agents and a modification of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay have been investigated for their usefulness in distinguishing primary genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections from nonprimary infections. Forty-nine serum specimens from patients with primary, recurrent, and nonprimary first-episode genital herpe...

Herpes simplex virus infection and syphilis are the most common causes of genital ulcers in the United States. Other infectious causes include chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, granuloma inguinale (donovanosis), secondary bacterial infections, and fungi. Noninfectious etiologies, including sexual trauma, psoriasis, Behçet syndrome, and fixed drug eruptions, can also lead to genital ulcers. A...