[The virological diagnosis of recurrent labial herpes].

Recurrent herpes of the lips was diagnosed by virologic methods in 45 patients. Isolation of herpes simplex virus has confirmed the clinical diagnosis and helped follow up the time course of virus reproduction over 5 days of the relapse; a positive result was achieved in 80 +/- 5.9% of cases. The incidence of herpes simplex virus isolation was the highest as were its titers on day 3 of the relapse. Virologic control within this period is a reliable criterion of the antiviral effect of local therapy of recurrent herpes of the lips.