[Valaciclovir in the treatment of initial infection by genital herpes virus: comparative study]

To know the therapeutic efficiency in the genital herpes of two drugs: acyclovir and valaciclovir.

There were included in the study 142 patients with diagnostic of clinic first episode by genital herpes in two equal groups of 71 patients each one. The distribution in both groups was random to receive one of the following treatment standards: acyclovir 200 mg by verbal each 5 hours, during 7 days; valaciclovir: 500 mg by verbal each 12 hours during 7 days being valued objective and subjective response to the treatment.

The prevailing symptom was the pain (45% and 46.4%), followed by the warmth or burning sensation. The most frequent lesions in both groups were blisters (39.4% and 46.4%). The analysis response to the treatment in relationship to the symptoms as well as in the lesions it could be appreciated that there are not significant differences in the patients treated in both groups (p = 0.3). The adverse effect communicated by the discussed patients were scarce and similar in both groups.

Both drugs are suitable for the treatment of the genital herpes. The advantage observed with the valaciclovir is the dosing comfort and the facility of completing the treatment.