The use of antiviral medications in the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections of women

Over the last decades, major basic and clinical research in the field of an tiviral therapy has allowed the health care provider to treat and prevent t he morbidity and mortality of many viral infections. The health care provid er is faced with challengers in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of viral STDs in women. A number of antiviral compounds can be used for the t reatment of acute infection. In addition, these medications have been prove n to be safe and effective when administered over long periods of time to t reat and suppress such viral infections as genital herpes. Another therapeu tic way of using these antiviral medications is to reduce viral shedding in infected patients thus preventing transmission of the disease. The use of antiviral medications as postexposure prophylaxis is another area in which the clinician needs current information. The mechanism of action, the spect rum of activity, and the pharmacokinetics of these antiviral compounds are important in selecting appropriate therapy for patients. The standard of ca re has changed with the availability of safe and effective antiviral medica tions. The FDA after careful and controlled clinical trials has approved several a ntiviral compounds to treat viral STDs. Appropriate use of antiviral compou nds in the nonpregnant and pregnant woman significantly improves the morbid ity and mortality associated with herpes simplex virus infections and may i nfluence transmission rates to sexual partners and the newborn.