“How is the herpes virus treated?”

I assume that the question is specifically for Herpes simplex infection which is the cause of fever blisters and occasionally other skin infections. Many Herpes simplex infections are recurrent due to the fact that the virus is latent and remains in nerve tissue for the life of a person who is infected and will periodically recur to an active infection. There are drugs which are helpful in invasive infections such as acyclovir, but these drugs have a minimal role in localized recurrent skin infections and are generally not recommended unless symptoms are severe. They may slightly shorten the duration of the infections, but only minimally. There are medications available for over the counter medicines which can be applied to the blisters directly, and these also may minimize the duration of the sores and make the infection more tolerable; these can be obtained at pharmacies and can up the blister like lessions and will shorten the course of herpes.


Dr. Gary Overturf

Acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are three prescription drugs that are active against the herpes simplex viruses. Creams do not help much nor do many of the alternative medications


G dickinson