Diagnosis and management of viral infections.

With the introduction of new diagnostic techniques and the expanding choices of antiviral agents, clinical virology is rapidly becoming an important field in infectious diseases. While effective therapy for several respiratory viruses, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus, and Epstein-Barr virus is not currently available, herpes simplex, varicella zoster, and influenza A associated diseases can be adequately treated in many cases at the present time. New agents such as interferon, other nucleoside analogues, and immunomodulators are being investigated for their role in the treatment of viral illnesses, and many such illnesses with high morbidity and mortality may soon have effective therapy.