Herpes simplex

clinical update, epidemiology and therapeutics

Abstract

Herpes is an infection caused by two viruses in the Herpesviridae family (herpes simplex types 1 and 2; HSV-1 and HSV-2), which presents a variable clinical course and for which there is currently no cure. The manifestations of HSV-1 infection include primary and recurrent orofacial herpes simplex, while HSV-2 infection usually manifests in the form of genital herpes simplex, although cases of genital lesions from HSV-1 infection and oral lesions form HSV-2 infection can occur. Infections by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) represent one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases globally, reaching a serum prevalence of 80% in adults. In this review of the literature, we discuss the clinical aspects of HSV infection, including epidemiology, etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment, as well as a brief description of the immunogenetics of HSV infection.