Current Paediatrics
Volume 14, Issue 2 , Pages 131-136, April 2004

Management of herpes simplex virus infections

  • Cheryl A Jones

      Affiliations

    • Discipline of Paediatrics & Child Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    • Herpesvirus Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
    • Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Herpesvirus Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia. Tel.: +61-2-9845-0521; fax: +61-2-9845-3082
    • ,
  • David Isaacs

      Affiliations

    • Discipline of Paediatrics & Child Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    • Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia

Abstract 

Primary and recurrent herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are a common clinical problem. HSV disease in the very young or the immunocompromised can be especially severe and rapidly progressive. Management recommendations vary depending on the child's age, immune state, and the site and severity of infection. In this review, guidelines for the management of the common clinical syndromes of HSV infection in childhood are provided using the best available evidence. However, there are few controlled clinical trials documenting the efficacy of treatment strategies for HSV disease in childhood beyond the neonatal period, and recommendations for treating mucocutaneous and genital HSV disease must be extrapolated from adult data. Future research is needed to define the role of antiviral therapy in many childhood HSV syndromes, and there is a strong need to develop oral suspensions of antiviral drugs that can be given to young children at practical dosing intervals.

Keywords:  Herpes simplex virus, Childhood, Management, Antiviral agents

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PII: S0957-5839(03)00145-3

doi:10.1016/j.cupe.2003.11.013

Current Paediatrics
Volume 14, Issue 2 , Pages 131-136, April 2004

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