Treatment

For treatment of initial oral mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, use:

1 famciclovir 500 mg orally, 12-hourly for 7 to 10 days. For dosage adjustment in adults with kidney impairment, see famciclovir dosage adjustment oral mucocutaneous herpes, treatment (adult with HIV) famciclovir famciclovir famciclovir

OR

1 valaciclovir 1 g orally, 12-hourly for 7 to 10 days. For dosage adjustment in adults with kidney impairment, see valaciclovir dosage adjustment. oral mucocutaneous herpes, treatment (adult with HIV) valaciclovir    

For infrequent severe recurrences of oral mucocutaneous HSV, use one of the regimens above for 5 days. For frequent severe recurrences, see Maintenance therapy.

In patients with newly diagnosed HIV, exclude other infections before starting antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection. For patients with HIV and oral mucocutaneous HSV but no other infection, start antiretroviral therapy as soon as possible (see Initial antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection in adults).