HERPETIC VIRAL INFECTIONS

Important viral infections of genus herpes include: (a) herpes simplex, (b) infectious mononucleosis, (c) cyto­megalovirus disease, (d) varicella-zoster or chickenpox, and (e) Roseola infantum due to HHV 6/7 infections. A relatively new herpes virus, i.e. HHV 8, identified in 1994, has been implicated in etiology of: (a) Kaposi sar­coma in AIDS, (b) multiple myeloma in elderly, and (c) other malignancies, e.g. lymphoma in immunodeficient host.

A distinguishing features of all herpetic infections is the life-long persistence of virus after primary infection (latent phase) with intermittent reactivation or viral shedding.

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