Contraindications Documented hypersensitivity Interactions None reported Pregnancy C - Safety for use during pregnancy has not been established. Topical acyclovir is only minimally helpful in patients with primary disease and is probably ineffective in recurrent episodes. Patients and all sexual contacts should be tested and treated for accompanying STDs. Practice abstinence when lesions are present. Always use condoms because of the potential for asymptomatic viral shedding.
Experimental vaccines are currently in clinical trials.
Use sunscreen to decrease herpes labialis recurrences. Initiate antiviral therapy as soon as possible after the patient notes symptoms. Consider prophylaxis with more than 6 recurrences per year. Follow deterrence measures. Recurrence rates in genital herpes after symptomatic first-episode infection.