Uworld question on Antiherpetics- valcyclovir and recurrence??

[Transformers]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Answer was that valcyclvir is the best tx to prevent recurrence of disease in up to 50% of cases


My question is I thought antiherpetics have no effect on latency and only work on active disease so why would antiherpetics help prevent recurrence?....hence the saying you have herpes for life and hence wouldnt it be futile for a healthy person with latent herpes to take valcyclovir?

 

[Transposony]

Because it reduces the frequency of recurrent clinical episodes.

Suppressive therapy provides the opportunity to go from 4 to 6 outbreaks a year to 1 or fewer outbreaks. If you are in the high recurrence group (1 outbreak a month or 12 a year), suppression can reduce outbreaks by 80% to 85% for a total of perhaps 1 to 2 outbreaks per year. There is also a strong suggestion that by treating people with antiviral therapy for herpes, you significantly reduce the likelihood of viral transmission, perhaps as much as 80%. This undoubtedly occurs due to reduced lesional disease and reduced asymptomatic shedding.

Although the results vary for subclinical episodes.

Suppressive antiviral therapy can be used in individuals with frequent and/or particularly symptomatic relapses, but clinical trials have shown variable results.

 

[Transformers]

thanks man!