This course discusses the human herpesviruses (HHVs) and their adverse affects from cold sores to cancer, from trivial to debilitating, from self-limiting to lethal.  A review of the research is presented with a focus on a relatively new anti-HHV medication - Viroxyn®.  This is an exciting, new addition to the anti-HHV armamentarium: the first treatment system to capitalize on the topical, microbicidal approach in a field currently dominated by systemic, anti-DNA nucleosides.  Your effective application of these treatments may help improve quality of live for your HSV-1 patients and their families. With this knowledge you may even save lives.

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to do the following:

1. Identify all the human herpesviruses that cause skin infection (HHVI).
2. Describe the standard treatments for treating HHVI.
3. Discuss the natural history, pathogenesis and epidemiology of HHVI.
4. Discuss the mechanism of action of topical microbicidal treatment of HHVI.
5. Discuss the importance of HHVI to high-risk populations.
6. Discuss the relationship between HHVI and HIV infection.
7. Evaluate clinical study results for clinical and statistical value.
   

The human herpesviruses (HHV) are the cause of a wide range of illnesses in large numbers of people around the world.  The diseases range from trivial and self-limited to lethal.  The common cold sore virus can cause encephalitis while others increase the chances of acquiring HIV.  Relief of suffering and shortening the time of viral replication and perhaps even some cures are possible in the foreseeable future.  The most recent player in this arena is Viroxyn.  The effective application and how to apply Viroxyn is presented. 

COURSE OUTLINE

1. Introduction
   
   
   1. What are the human herpesviruses?
      
      
   2. What illnesses do they cause?
      
      
   3. How are they important?
   
   
2. Virology
   
   
   1. Viral Structure
      
      
   2. Viral Replication
      
      
   3. Viral Specificity
   
   
3. Immunology
   
   
   1. Humoral system
      
      
   2. Cellular system
      
      
   3. Immune compromised patients
      
      
   4. Vaccine development
   
   
4. Epidemiology
   
   
   1. Transmission
      
      
   2. Prevention
      
      
   3. Status awareness
      
      
   4. Silent shedding
      
      
   5. Oro-genital risks
   
   
5. Natural History
   
   
   1. Oro-facial herpes
      
      
   2. Genital herpes
      
      
   3. Varicella zoster
      
      
   4. Other human herpesviruses
   
   
6. Diagnosis
   
   
   1. Clinical
      
      
   2. Serologic
      
      
   3. Viral identification
   
   
7. Management
   
   
   1. Topical nucleosides
      
      
   2. Systemic nucleosides
      
      
   3. Antiseptics
      
      
   4. Skin protectants
      
      
   5. Moisturizers
      
      
   6. Pipeline
   
   
8. Prevention
   
   
   1. Education
      
      
   2. Barrier protection
      
      
   3. Prophylaxis
      
      
   4. Suppressive therapy
   
   
9. Dental Practice Issues
   
   
   1. Risk of inoculation & infection
      
      
   2. Induction of episodes of cold sores
      
      
   3. Interference with procedures
   
   
10. Public Health Issues
    
    
    1. Prevention of transmission
       
       
    2. Protection of "innocents"
       
       
    3. Protection of professionals
       
       
    4. Pre-infection education
       
       
    5. HIV associations
    
    
11. Advances in Treatment
    
    
    1. New topical treatments
       
       
    2. New systemic treatments
       
       
    3. Vaccines
       
       
    4. Prevention of transmission
       
       
    5. Research pipeline

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