Viral Infections and Antiviral Therapies - Chapter 6: Sexually transmitted viral infections

Common sexually transmitted diseases caused by viruses are genital warts, genital herpes, the human immunodeficiency virus, human T cell lymphotropic virus, and hepatitis A, B, C. The chief determinants of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are demographic, economic, social, and behavioral based along with the status of healthcare system catering to prevention and management of STIs. Viral STIs unlike other STIs are difficult to treat and patients once afflicted may carry the virus throughout their life. However, all STIs are preventable. It is worthwhile to mention that the long-term impact of viral STIs on health is serious and sometimes life threatening. Prevention is the ultimate goal for these STIs and therefore all health personnel must have the correct knowledge regarding prevention and management of STIs so that the right message is percolated at the right time to the right population.