Recent Advances in Management of Genital Herpes

Overview

Journal Can Fam Physician

Specialties General Medicine
Public Health

Date 2000 Aug 24

PMID 10955181

Citations 1

Authors

I Tetrault

G Boivin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To provide an update on new diagnostic tests and antiviral strategies for managing genital herpes.

Quality Of Evidence: Treatment guidelines are based on randomized clinical trials and recommendations from the Expert Working Group on Canadian Guidelines for Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Recommendations concerning other aspects of managing genital herpes (e.g., indications for using type-specific serologic tests) are mainly based on expert opinion.

Main Message: Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, affecting about 20% of sexually active people; up to 80% of cases are undiagnosed. Because of frequent atypical presentation and the emotional burden associated with genital herpes, clinical diagnosis should be confirmed by viral culture. Type-specific serologic assays are now available, but their use is often restricted to special situations and requires adequate counseling. New antivirals (valacyclovir and famciclovir) with improved pharmacokinetic profiles have now been approved for episodic treatment of recurrences and suppressive therapy.

Conclusion: Wise use of new diagnostic assays for herpes simplex coupled with more convenient treatment regimens should provide better management of patients with genital herpes.

Citing Articles

How safe is safer sex? High levels of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in female sex workers in London.

Fox J, Taylor G, Day S, Parry J, Ward H Epidemiol Infect. 2006; 134(5):1114-9.

PMID: 16569273 PMC: 2870498. DOI: 10.1017/S0950268806006133.

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