{"title":"Pain following herpes zoster: implications for management.","authors":"Robert W Johnson","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>At the 11th Annual Meeting of the International Herpes Management Forum (IHMF), held 27-29 February 2004, I delivered the Martin Wood Memorial Lecture on the management of herpes zoster-associated pain. Prevention of post-herpetic neuralgia is an important goal in the management of herpes zoster. Recognition of individuals at high risk of progression, followed by prompt intervention with antiviral agents, helps to reduce the disability, distress and healthcare resource utilization caused by this disease and its consequences. In established cases of post-herpetic neuralgia, first line therapy with tricyclic antidepressants and second line therapy with some anticonvulsants and opioids have both shown efficacy in many patients, but development of more effective treatments is needed for optimal outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"11 3","pages":"63-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2004-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25308941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Psychosocial issues in genital herpes management.","authors":"John Green","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Genital herpes leads to considerable distress in many patients at the time of diagnosis. Most people with recurrences adapt psychologically over time, but some fail to do so, and show continuing psychological morbidity. It is not clear why some people adjust and others do not. Antiviral medication may help to promote adjustment but the evidence is inconclusive. Little is known about the behavioural adjustments that people make, or how they deal with their sexual relationships. Many people fail to disclose to some or all of their sexual partners, particularly casual partners. There are little hard data on the most effective ways to help people adjust to the diagnosis and to help them to reduce the risk of transmission, although what people are told (and the practical advice they are offered) may be important. This article, the first of two papers in this issue to consider the impact of genital herpes, outlines the problems facing people with genital herpes; the second article gives practical guidance for clinicians supporting people with herpes.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"11 3","pages":"60-2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2004-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25309159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Is viral shedding a surrogate marker for transmission of genital herpes? A discussion document.","authors":"Paul Griffiths","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While the concept linking herpes simplex virus (HSV) shedding to transmission is plausible, few data support shedding as a surrogate marker. If shedding is to be used as a surrogate marker in future clinical studies, it must be clear how far shedding must be reduced, and what the shape of the transmission:viral load curve (or transmission:detection frequency curve) is before transmission is reduced. It remains unclear whether peak virus load, frequency of detection of virus, or the area under curve of the time:virus load plot is the critical parameter in the transmission of HSV. This paper reports on an international meeting of experts and a debate at the International Herpes Management Forum (IHMF) Annual Meeting (2004), convened to examine whether a surrogate marker for HSV transmission is necessary, and whether there is any evidence, either in studies involving HSV or other viral infections, to suggest that viral shedding could be used as such a surrogate.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"11 3","pages":"66-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2004-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25309047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Synergistic interactions between herpes simplex virus type-2 and human immunodeficiency virus epidemics.","authors":"Anna Wald","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Several factors clearly influence HSV-2 transmission, such as female gender and number of sexual contacts.3,4 Some are less well defined, and may be confounded by other factors, but include time since While the concept linking herpes simplex virus (HSV) shedding to transmission is plausible, few data support shedding as a surrogate marker. If shedding is to be used as a surrogate marker in future clinical studies, it must be clear how far shedding must be reduced, and what the shape of the transmission:viral load curve (or transmission:detection frequency curve) is before transmission is reduced. It remains unclear whether peak virus load, frequency of detection of virus, or the area under curve of the time:virus load plot is the critical parameter in the transmission of HSV. This paper reports on an international meeting of experts and a debate at the International Herpes Management Forum (IHMF) Annual Meeting (2004), convened to examine whether a surrogate marker for HSV transmission is necessary, and whether there is any evidence, either in studies involving HSV or other viral infections, to suggest that viral shedding could be used as such a surrogate.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"11 3","pages":"70-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2004-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25309048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Supporting the patient with genital HSV infection.","authors":"Raj Patel","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>How a clinician informs a patient that they have genital herpes, and counsels them during diagnosis and treatment, has a critical impact on the patient's long-term adjustment to herpes. Allowing adequate time for discussion (and ensuring that the patient understands the information provided) enables the patient to gain sufficient understanding of genital herpes and helps them to adjust well to the infection. Support should focus on empowering the patient to take control of their disease so that they understand the need to practise safer sex consistently, discuss their disease openly with partners, and treat herpes outbreaks appropriately. The value of suppressive antiviral therapy and consistent condom use to help the patient control their disease, its transmission and its psychological sequelae, should not be underestimated.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"11 3","pages":"87-92"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2004-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25309050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Management of CMV infection and disease in transplant patients. 27-29 February 2004.","authors":"Raymund R Razonable, Vincent C Emery","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The International Herpes Management Forum (IHMF) has published guidelines for the diagnosis and management of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in solid organ (SOT) and haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. These recommendations have been updated to include, among others: (1) use of whole blood for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnosis of CMV infection; (2) CMV load measurements for prognostication and for monitoring response to anti-CMV therapy; (3) valganciclovir prophylaxis in CMV donor-positive/recipientnegative (D+/R-) SOT patients for prevention of CMV disease; (4) oral ganciclovir prophylaxis, in preference to aciclovir, to reduce incidence of CMV disease in SOT patients; (5) pre-emptive therapy with oral ganciclovir to reduce incidence of CMV disease and viraemia in liver transplant patients; (6) valaciclovir prophylaxis, in preference to high-dose oral aciclovir, to prevent CMV infection in allogeneic HSCT patients; and (7) foscarnet as an alternative to intravenous ganciclovir for pre-emptive treatment of CMV infection in allogeneic HSCT patients. New developments in the field requiring further research were highlighted, including: optimal frequency of CMV monitoring in CMV D+/R- SOT patients; optimal duration of prophylaxis for the prevention of late CMV disease; need for an acceptable viral threshold for initiation of pre-emptive therapy; and assessment of the clinical efficacy of valganciclovir for the treatment of CMV disease and as pre-emptive therapy in SOT and HSCT patients. This article presents supporting evidence for these recommendations and statements.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"11 3","pages":"77-86"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2004-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25309049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Neonatal HSV infections: the global picture.","authors":"David W Kimberlin","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"11 2","pages":"31-2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2004-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25134956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Herpes simplex virus type 2 transmission: risk factors and virus shedding.","authors":"Anna Wald","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection is not uniform, with some populations bearing a greater burden of disease than others. Potential risk factors that influence HSV-2 transmission rates have been identified, largely from observational prospective and retrospective studies. Risk factors can be categorized as biological or behavioural. These risk factors can be markers of population subgroups that are likely to have acquired, or are at high risk of acquiring, HSV-2. Major factors associated with HSV-2 seropositivity include female gender, race (black), history of sexually transmitted infections, increasing numbers of sexual partners, sexual contact with commercial sex workers and low socio-economic status or level of education. Age-related risk factors are important, likely reflecting the cumulative number of sex partners, age of initiation of sexual activity, and duration of sexual activity as well as chronic nature of HSV-2 infection. Understanding and identifying these factors may help to direct interventions to reduce HSV-2 transmission and acquisition. An important contributing factor to the spread of genital herpes is unrecognized virus shedding, often allowing transmission from individuals who are not aware that they are infected or who are not having a recurrence. Antiviral therapy reduces both the frequency and amount of HSV reactivation, whereas behavioural risk factors can be addressed in part with educational initiatives. Clinical history is a poor predictor of HSV-2 infection and type-specific serological testing is recommended to detect HSV-2 seropositivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"11 Suppl 3 ","pages":"130A-137A"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2004-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"24642343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Neonatal HSV infection Part I: continuing challenges.","authors":"Andre J Nahmias","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neonatal herpes still presents diagnostic and management problems in view of continuing high mortality and morbidity rates, even though effective antiviral therapy is now available. This article, which reviews current knowledge and progress, provides practical guidelines for the diagnosis, management and treatment of neonatal herpes, based on the literature and decades of experience. It is advisable to focus at the local level on detecting maternal cervical infection, applying the available diagnostic tools and obtaining appropriate medical specialty consultations, as well as improving health worker and patient education about detecting and managing herpes simplex virus infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"11 2","pages":"33-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2004-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25134957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aids for the diagnosis of neonatal herpes -- an Australian perspective.","authors":"Ellie Freedman, Adrian Mindel, Cheryl A Jones","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neonatal herpes is rare in Australia, possibly because of the older average age at pregnancy compared with other developed countries, low herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 seroprevalence in the general community, low risk of HSV-2 acquisition during pregnancy and relatively high HSV-1 seroprevalence in adults. Guidelines on herpes management in pregnancy have been produced by the Australian Society for Infectious Diseases and endorsed by the Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. However, diagnosing and managing neonatal infection remains difficult. Until an effective strategy to prevent neonatal herpes is developed, our efforts should focus on improving early diagnosis of HSV disease in the neonate and developing more effective strategies to reduce early reactivation and long-term morbidity.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"11 2","pages":"38-44"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2004-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25134958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}