[Therapeutic strategies for genital herpes]

Genital herpes, usually a benign infection, has nevertheless an important psychological impact by its recurrent character. The clinical management needs first well done patient counseling, and second, the biological documentation of the virus excretion. When this is achieved, different treatment strategies may be proposed targeting mainly acute crisis. There is, however, a strong trend towards the prevention of recurrences using suppressive antiviral treatment or modulating the immune system (vaccines, immunomodulators). Indeed, there is a hope that these new approaches may lead to the reduction of disease transmission by diminishing the viral shedding.