Therapeutic targets
- Improvement of the symptomatology
- Control of complications
Therapy recommendations
- For simple herpes labialis, symptomatic therapy is sufficient.
- Virostasis (antivirals; agents that inhibit the replication of viruses).
- However, local (“locally acting”) virostatics, such as aciclovir (as a topical drug), should be applied when the burning sensation on the lip begins (prodromal stage).
- Systemic antivirals: only in severe courses or herpes simplex encephalitis (synonyms: HSV encephalitis; herpes encephalitis; inflammation of the brain due to infection with herpes simplex viruses); first-line agent: aciclovir.
- See also under “Further therapy“.
