Herpetic Whitlow

Antivirals

A herpetic whitlow may be treated with an antiviral drug such asaciclovir.

You may be prescribed a five or seven day course of 200mgaciclovirto take five times a day or 400mg to take three times a day.

But this is only worth taking if you start the treatment within 48 hours of symptoms starting.Using an antiviralafter this initial period is unlikely to have any effect.

Antiviral drugs mayhelp toheal a herpetic whitlow, butthey do not get rid of the herpes simplex virus or prevent future outbreaks of herpes simplex viralinfection.

A whitlow will heal without anantiviral drug within two to three weeks.Antiviral treatment may:

• reduce the time taken for the abscess to heal
• reduce your risk of a secondary bacterial infection
• reduce your risk of the herpes simplex virus spreading to other parts of the body

Caring for the whitlow at home

You should cover the whitlow with a light dressing so the infection doesn't spread any further.

Avoid wearing contact lenses until the infection has healed, to stop the virus spreading to your eyes.

You can take anover-the-counter painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief.

Do not attempt to drain the fluid, as this may cause the virus to spread or causea bacterial infection.