Situational antiviral drug prophylaxis for HSV type 1 recurrences.

Recurrent herpes simplex virus type 1 infection is generally associated with mild morbidity. However, frequent recurrences may have a significant psychosocial impact, and reactivation in certain high-risk situations may cause considerable morbidity. Controlled trials demonstrate that antiviral drug prophylaxis can be efficacious in selected circumstances; even for other situations, clinical reports suggest that such antiviral drug prophylaxis remains effective.