Fast Five Quiz: Herpes Simplex Virus

Michael Stuart Bronze, MD

Disclosures

September 06, 2022

Treatments for HSV-2 infections include acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir. The current CDC recommended options for suppressive therapy of recurrent HSV-2 genital herpes are as follows:

  • Valacyclovir at 500 mg orally once a day (Valacyclovir at 500 mg once a day might be less effective than other valacyclovir or acyclovir dosing regimens for persons who have frequent recurrences.)

  • Valacyclovir at 1 gm orally once a day

  • Acyclovir at 400 mg orally 2 times per day

  • Famciclovir at 250 mg orally 2 times per day

Penciclovir is a DNA polymerase inhibitor in HSV-1 and HSV-2, with only topical preparations suited for herpes labialis available. Pritelivir has potent and resistance-breaking antiviral activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2 and is being developed for the treatment of acyclovir-resistant and dual-resistant mucocutaneous infections in immune-compromised patients. The therapy has been limited to treating short-term genital herpetic infections.

Learn more about valacyclovir.

This Fast Five Quiz was excerpted and adapted from the Medscape articles Herpes Simplex, Valacyclovir, and Bell Palsy.

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