A patient who has genital herpes has frequent outbreaks. The ...

[naturalchemist]

A patient who has genital herpes has frequent outbreaks. The patient asks the primary care NP why it is necessary to take oral acyclovir all the time and not just for acute outbreaks. The NP should explain that oral acyclovir may:
 
  a. prevent the virus from developing resistance.
  b. cause episodes to be shorter and less frequent.
  c. actually eradicate the virus and cure the disease.
  d. reduce the chance of transmitting the virus to others.

Question 2

A patient who is currently not sexually active has an outbreak of genital herpes. The patient asks the primary care NP how this could have occurred without active infection since being treated more than 2 years ago.
 
  The NP should tell the patient that: a. the infection must be due to a resistant herpes simplex virus (HSV) strain.
  b. the original infection may have been partially treated.
  c. the current infection may be from contact with a toilet seat.
  d. successful treatment won't prevent future outbreaks of active infection.

[miss_1456@hotmail.com]

Answer to Question 1

B
Oral acyclovir has prevented or reduced the frequency of severity of recurrences in more than 95 of patients and so should be given to patients with recurrent episodes. It does not affect resistance. The antiviral medication does not eradicate the virus; it prevents replication. The disease is transmitted even without symptoms.

Answer to Question 2

D
Treatment of acute infection does not eliminate chronic infection, and outbreaks can occur at any time. Latency and outbreaks are not necessarily caused by resistant HSV strains. The current infection is not caused by contact with a toilet seat.

[naturalchemist]

Gracias!

[scikid]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it