Question

A client with herpes simplex virus (hsv) presents to the clinic stating, "i can stop taking my drugs because i'm cured. my lesions are gone." the health care provider bases his or her response knowing the pathophysiology behind the disappearance of hsv symptoms infection relates to:

Answer 1

The herpes simplex virus or HSV have periods of latency in the tissue it invades, in this case, the nervous system. Latency means that the virus will not be actively dividing for a certain period of time which means signs and symptoms related to viremia and direct action of the virus will disappear. This does not mean that the patient is cured, but the disease will soon be active again anytime, especially if the patient will enter a time of immunocompromise.