Clinical study of the efficacy of oral acyclovir in the management of genital herpes in obstetrics and gynecology practice

Abstract

Twenty-five female patients with genital herpes were treated with oral acyclovir 200mg five times daily for five days to evaluate the efficacy and safery of this treatment.
Sixteen patients had a primary episode and the remaining nine had recurrent episodes. Viral identification was carried out in fourteen patients. In four patients the cause was herpes simplex virus type 1 (primary : recurrent, 3 : 1). In the remaining ten herpes simplex type 2 was isolated (5 : 5). The overall efficacy of treatment was 87.5% (14/16) in patients with primary episodes and 100% in recurrent cases. Only one adverse effect (mild stomachache) was recorded by one patient. At the end of treatment. herpes simplex virus antigen was not detected in any patients. Oral acyclovir at a dose of 200mg five times daily is an effective treatment for primary and recurrent genital herpes.