SURVEY OF THE MANAGEMENT OF GENITAL HERPES IN GENERAL-PRACTICE

In a questionnaire survey of the management and treatment of genital h erpes in the community by general practitioners (GPs) in 16 UK cities considered to have good access to genitourinary services, the mean num ber of cases seen per GP in the previous 12 months was 1.37 for first episodes and 0.96 cases for recurrent episode genital herpes. First ep isode genital herpes was regularly managed solely in the community by 21% of responding GPs, while 45% of those referring directly to the ge nitourinary medicine clinic initiated treatment prior to referral; the vast majority prescribing acyclovir. Overall, three-quarters of GPs p rescribed oral acyclovir for first episode genital herpes. Recurrent g enital herpes was regularly treated solely in the community by 47% of responding GPs, while 53% of those referring directly to the genitouri nary medicine clinic initiated treatment prior to referral. There was almost equal usage between acyclovir cream and tablets in the treatmen t of recurrent infections.