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British Medical Bulletin 41:357-360 (1985)
© 1985 The British Council

research-article

SKIN INFECTIONS

D Brigden

The Wellcome Research Laboratories Beckenham, Kent

Abstract

Antiviral therapy, long thought to be impossible has now become a reality. There major viruses which infect the skin can be medically managed provided the limitations of therapy are borne in mind. Herpes simplex, which causes life-threatening infections in the immunocompromised and in neonates and causes deeply distressing recurrent lesions of the mouth and genitalia, can be effectively treated by acyclovir and, while a cure is not achievable, recurrence of lesions can largely be prevented for as long as the drug is administered. Acyclovir and vidarabine are effective at preventing severe complications of varicella zoster in the immunocompromised, and acyclovir can provide considerable amelioration of the symptoms and signs of shingles, particularly in the elderly. Recently, work with human interferon has demonstrated that severe lesions caused by papilloma viruses can be effectively controlled in most patients. Future work will define in more detail how these advances can be used to maximum advantage.


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