Medicus, Vol. 12 No. 2_Spolne bolesti, 2003.
Review article
Urogenital Infections Caused by Human Papilloma and Herpes Simplex Viruses
Mihael Skerlev
Abstract
The article presents essential characteristics
of urogenital infections caused by human papilloma (HPV) and
herpes simplex viruses (HSV). Genital infections caused by HPV
are increasingly the subject of investigation, because of their
high incidence within the group of sexually transmitted infections
(STIs), high relapse rate, long-lasting treatment and association
with malignances. HPV genital infections occur mostly in
young, childbearing population. Thus, their successful treatment
and follow up is an obligation of each society in search
of progress. Until today, more than 100 HPV types have been
confirmed. Genital infections caused by HPV are clinically manifested
mainly as the following entities: genital warts condyloma
(condylomata acuminata), flat condyloma (condylomata
plana), giant condyloma of Buschke-Loewenstein type and
Bowenoid papulosis (papulosis Bowenoide). Today the HPV
DNA detection in the tissue sample or in the smear is the
method of choice in the diagnostics of HPV genital infections.
For the time being there is no specific antiviral treatment of HPV
genital infection. Thus, the choice of treatment depends on the
patient’s general health state and age, on the type, size and
site of changes, as well as on the therapist’s experience. As for
genital herpes, its frequent and unpredictable relapses, the
occurrence of ulcerations, high contagiousness in the active
phase as well as the latent phase of the infection present therapeutic
problem both for the physician and patient. As HSV in
latent phases persists in nervous system ganglia, a drug that
would definitely solve the problem of genital herpes still does
not exist. Great advance has been achieved by specific antiviral
drugs for the active phase of herpetic infection - acyclovir,
valacyclovir and famcyclovir. There is a large number of clinical
studies the results of which show high efficacy of the mentioned
medications in short episodic and in prolonged, suppressive
treatment of genital herpes.
Keywords
urogenital infections; human papilloma virus; herpes simplex virus; treatment
Hrčak ID:
20577
URI
Publication date:
7.10.2003.
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