Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

What is the recommended treatment for a patient diagnosed with primary herpes?

1. Antivirals

2. Palliative treatment

3. Topical corticosteroids

4. Aggressive antibiotic therapy

The correct answer is: Palliative treatment

In the case of primary herpes, the recommended treatment is antiviral medications. These medications help to reduce the duration of symptoms and the likelihood of future outbreaks. Antivirals such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir are commonly prescribed to manage the infection effectively. While palliative treatment can be part of managing symptoms, it is not the primary recommended approach for treating the viral infection itself. Palliative treatment focuses on relieving symptoms such as pain and discomfort rather than addressing the underlying viral cause. Therefore, utilizing antiviral therapy addresses the infection directly, preventing complications and promoting faster healing while alleviating symptoms. Other options, such as topical corticosteroids, are not indicated for viral infections like herpes as they can potentially exacerbate the condition by suppressing local immune responses. Aggressive antibiotic therapy is also not suitable, as antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections and would not aid in resolving a herpes simplex virus infection.