[Herpes simplex virus in dental practice, longitudinal epidemiologic study]

The percentage of asymptomatic recurrences was measured using systematic salivary samples from 443 patients from January 1987 to April 1988. The study of symptomatic recurrences involved 11 patients having clinical lesions due to herpes simplex buccofacial infections. The analysis revealed 0.89% of the patients encountered (N = 443) had assymptomatic salivary excretion. The study of patients showing clinical signs of herpes simplex revealed that the virus was found in 0.37% of the patients seen in consultation (N = 6,379). The saliva carried the virus in 4 out of 5 cases of oral recurrence and in 12.5% of the cases (N = 32) of extraoral recurrence. The occurrence of the virus during the course of odontological practice exists in clinically detectable forms, but also, and in a non-negligible manner, may be in clinically undetectable forms. These data should be taken into consideration in the daily exercise of the profession by virtue of the risk of contamination--cross-over which may be brought about.