Treatment options: herpes simplex viruses

A 35-year-old woman presented with a 1-week history of vesiculopustules on erythematous bases on and in proximity to her lips (Figure 1). The patient had noted burning and itching in the area of these vesiculo-pustules before they developed. She had no systematic symptoms and had not noted similar vesiculopustules in this location in the past. A Tzanck smear was done that revealed multinucleated giant cells. A viral culture was performed. The patient was diagnosed with herpes labialis and received valacyclovir 500 mg b.i.d. for 5 days. One week later, the eruption was noted to have resolved, at which time the results of the viral culture showed growth of Herpes Simplex Virus-1. Thereafter, the patient was lost to follow-up.