Ann Acad Med Singap
-
There have been impressive advances made over the last decade in the management of sexually transmitted viral diseases, especially in the development of effective antiviral agents. Acyclovir, first synthesized in 1974, has proved to be an effective and safe drug for the treatment of primary and frequently recurring genital herpes, according to the various medical publications over the last 10 years. This article reviews the use of acyclovir in the treatment of genital herpes and discusses the potential problem of acyclovir resistance. It also discusses two newer antiherpes drugs, famciclovir and valaciclovir, and the preliminary results of studies on their efficacy in the treatment of genital herpes.
-
Ann Acad Med Singap · Jul 1995
ReviewSexually transmitted diseases in Australia: a decade of change. Epidemiology and surveillance.
Survival data in the last decade for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) other than human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are uneven across the states/territories. The incidence of gonorrhoea decreased by more than 80%, but at different times in different patient groups, different states, and different anatomical sites. There was a resurgence of rectal gonorrhoea in homosexual men in 1989-1991. ⋯ An epidemic of hepatitis A infection occurred in male homosexuals in 1989-1991. Changes in the Australian sex industry resulted in marked improvements in the sexual health of local (but not international) sex workers. The high levels of STDs in Aboriginal communities continues to cause concern.