title: The diagnosis and management of oral herpes simplex infection.
abstract: Acute herpetic gingivostomatitis and recurrent herpes labialis are the most common manifestations of infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). In primary and recrudescent HSV-associated disease, the symptoms may range from subclinical to debilitating and life-threatening, depending on the host's immune responses or competence level. In this paper, the typical and atypical manifestations, and the current diagnostic and treatment options for localized, non-complicated oro-labial HSV infection are reviewed, with attention to cumulative evidence for the efficacy and safety of systemic antiviral agents. Some recent data on HSV-1 seroprevalence, viremia, and viral shedding are discussed in relation to disease transmission and global importance of herpesvirus disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Manitoba, Department of Oral Biology, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2 Canada. birek@ms.umanitoba.cab
authors.forename: Catalena
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Birek
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ficarra