Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

In the case of a patient diagnosed with primary herpes, antiviral medications are recommended as the first-line treatment. Antivirals, such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir, are effective in reducing the duration and severity of symptoms associated with herpes simplex virus infections. They work by inhibiting viral replication, thereby helping to alleviate the symptoms more quickly and reduce the risk of complications.

Palliative treatment focuses on relieving symptoms without addressing their underlying cause. While it may play a role in managing symptoms, it does not target the virus itself and may not be sufficient for a primary herpes infection that can be quite painful and uncomfortable.

Topical corticosteroids can help reduce inflammation and discomfort but are not effective against the herpes virus itself; using them could even worsen the infection by dampening the local immune response.

Aggressive antibiotic therapy is inappropriate because herpes is caused by a virus, not bacteria. Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections and would not provide any benefit to a patient with primary herpes.

Thus, antiviral medications are the most effective choice for managing primary herpes, providing both symptomatic relief and controlling the viral infection itself.