Herpesvirus infection in man.

Herpesviruses which affect man are herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus. The review deals with the more common clinical manifestations of human herpesvirus infections, which occur ubiquitously in all populations throughout the world. Primary infections most commonly occur in childhood. It is a characteristic feature of herpesvirus that they generally remain in a latent form after clearance of the primary infection. The overall majority of clinical problems are related to activated latent infections, viz. recurrent lesions of herpes simplex, herpes zoster with remaining neuralgia in older patients, and in particular herpesvirus infections and reactivation in immunodeficient individuals. Herpes infection during pregnancy may result in severe generalised infection of the newborn. A possible relationship between herpesvirus and cancer, especially between herpesvirus type 2 and cervical cancer and between Epstein-Barr virus and Burkitt's lymphoma are of major interest today.