Herpes genitalis.

In conclusion, herpes genitalis has become one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and has reached epidemic proportions. It presents a grave risk to immunocompromised patients and to newborns. The advent of effective therapy with acyclovir has dramatically modified the morbidity and mortality of disseminated herpesvirus infection and has helped in the therapy of primary and recurrent herpes genitalis. Current work has indicated that the disease can be transmitted by asymptomatic patients who are shedding the virus in the absence of visible lesions, which presents a diagnostic and therapeutic problem, especially significant for the pregnant patient, because infection of the neonate leads to serious consequences. Close follow-up of the pregnant woman with genital herpes therefore is imperative to minimize the risk to the newborn. At this time, no vaccines have been demonstrated to be safe and effective; therefore, prevention is of the utmost importance.