Genital%20herpes Treatment

Treatment

Pharmacotherapy

Use is warranted in suspected or diagnosed initial genital herpes infection with lesions not yet fully crusted
- To be administered within 5 days of the start of infection and continued until new lesions are forming or if there is persistence of systemic symptoms
- Treatment within 1 day of lesion onset may end development of lesions

Antivirals are effective in reducing severity and duration of symptoms
- Neither can eliminate the virus nor affect the risk and natural course of genital herpes infection

Oral antivirals are more effective than topical agents in the management of the initial episode
Choice of agent depends on cost, dosing schedule and patient preference
- Oral Aciclovir, Famciclovir, and Valaciclovir have similar efficacy

Aciclovir (Oral, IV)

Acyclic purine nucleoside analogue that is a competitive inhibitor of viral DNA polymerase
Limits viral replication and stops further spread of the virus to other cells
Oral and IV are both effective in treating HSV-1 and HSV-2
IV is usually reserved for severe disease or complications where hospitalization is necessary
Topical agent has limited efficacy, hence not recommended
Bioavailability is poor requiring frequent dosing

Famciclovir (Oral)

Famciclovir is a pro-drug of Penciclovir
Has higher bioavailability than Penciclovir and is rapidly converted to Penciclovir in GIT, blood and liver
Penciclovir has similar mechanism of action as Aciclovir

Valaciclovir (Oral)

L-valine ester pro-drug of Aciclovir, rapidly metabolized to Aciclovir by liver and intestine
Has better absorption after oral administration than Aciclovir making lower doses or lesser dosing frequency possible
Has been shown to decrease risk of transmission

The role of oral antivirals in COVID-19 treatment: Who, when, and how?

Dr. Roger Paredes, Dr. Nicola Petrosillo, Dr. Petrick Periyasamy, 30 Jan 2023

Though most countries have eased pandemic restrictions, there is no room for complacency in managing COVID-19, which continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality.

At a recent symposium, esteemed experts Dr Roger Paredes, Head of Department of Infectious Diseases at the Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain, and Dr Nicola Petrosillo, Head of the Infection Prevention and Control and Infectious Disease Service at University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy, gave global perspectives on the continuing unmet needs in the COVID-19 outpatient landscape and discussed the role of antiviral treatment options in patients at risk of progressing to severe COVID-19. Dr Petrick Periyasamy, Head of Infectious Diseases Unit, Medical Department, UKM Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, chaired the session.

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Aedes aegypti mosquito is the epitome of ‘small bite, big threat’. A bite from a female Aedes aegypti mosquito is enough to spread dengue. There are four different serotypes of dengue virus, Dengue Virus 1–4 (DENV1–4), thus, individuals can be infected with dengue up to four times. Repeated infections increase the risk of severe dengue, a risk factor for mortality. These serotypes are endemic to a certain countries and cocirculate in the natural environment. Dengue poses a major global health concern, with approximately 40% of the world’s population at risk of infection and more severe cases linked to a 20% mortality rate.