Acyclovir in the treatment of herpes simplex virus infection.

Acyclovir is a highly potent inhibitor of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 and varicella zoster virus, and has a remarkably low toxicity for normal host cells. It is now available as an ophthalmic ointment, skin cream and oral and intravenous formulations. Clinical trials in the past few years have shown acyclovir to be clinically useful in the therapy of certain aspects of genital herpes infection. Acyclovir has also been shown to be useful in herpes zoster, especially in immunocompromised patients. A retrospective study on the use of acyclovir was carried out on 14 patients with first episode genital herpes and 3 patients with eczema herpeticum. In patients with genital herpes, relief of symptoms was experienced within three days of treatment and lesions showed healing within five to seven days of treatment. Two out of the three patients with eczema herpeticum showed dramatic response to acyclovir; the lesions healed completely after six days of treatment.