title: Antiviral treatment of genital herpes.
abstract: A review of the randomized, controlled trials in the literature on the treatment of genital herpes infection with aciclovir, famciclovir and valaciclovir. Common clinical questions encountered by physicians, such as the effect of antivirals on symptoms, healing, aborting attacks and subsequent recurrences, are addressed. There is very little comparative data between the three licensed drugs but the little data that there is shows no difference in efficacy, tolerability and toxicity between aciclovir, valaciclovir or famciclovir when taken orally. Choice of therapy would then depend on convenience of dosing and cost.
authors.affiliation: Whittall Street Clinic, Whittall Street, Birmingham B4 6DH, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Apoola
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Radcliffe
mesh_terms: D015075:2-Aminopurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077595:Famciclovir; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015075:2-Aminopurine; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000077595:Famciclovir; D000212:Acyclovir