HERPES AWARENESS FOR THE DENTAL TEAM

Course overview

Course Description: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common cause of infections of the skin and mucous membranes and an uncommon cause of more serious infections in other parts of the body. HSV is one of the most difficult viruses to control. The fact that herpes simplex is part of a group of other Herpes viruses will be discussed. This course is designed for the participant to recognize and understand the infection process as well as the latency, reactivation, and recurrence issues of herpes as well as treatment options and prevention tactics. The role of the dental team in the proper treatment, as well as the prevention of the spread of the virus to other patients will be covered. This program is a must for the whole dental team. Objectives: Upon Completion of the program, you should be able to: Understand the Herpes Simplex Virus Identify the common cause of infections of the skin and mucous membranes. Identify other serious infections which target other parts of the body. Understand the virulence of the disease. Understand the recurrence issues and the effect on dental treatment Familiarize yourself with viruses such as human herpes virus 8 (the cause of Kaposi's Sarcoma) Understand Herpes Zoster and the correlation between shingles and chicken pox. Familiarize yourself with the burden on both oral and genital herpes. Understand the interactions between genital herpes and HIV infections. Understand the current pharmacologic therapies. Understand the proper treatment and infection control for these specific patients.