Treatment and prevention of herpes simplex virus type 1 in immunocompetent adolescents and adults

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a cause of recurrent vesiculoulcerative lesions of the oral or genital mucosa. It can also cause infection in the eye, skin, central nervous system, and/or visceral organs.

This topic will review treatment and prevention of primary and recurrent HSV-1 infections in immunocompetent adolescents and adults. The epidemiology and clinical manifestations of HSV-1, as well as the treatment of HSV-1 infections in young children, are discussed elsewhere. (See “Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection” and “Herpetic gingivostomatitis in young children”.)