Clinical Microbiology: Open Access

Management and treatment of herpes simplex keratitis (HSK)

6^th Clinical Microbiology Conference

October 20-22, 2016 Rome, Italy

Qamar Gulzar, Mehta Rishi, Mehta Pratiba, Tehmina Zafar, Muhammad Lodhi, Ihezie Amuchie, Nitin Khurana, Intekhab Askarisyed Ahmad Raja, James Smith, Sarah Hamid and M V Raghavendra Rao

Avalon University School of Medicine, Curacao

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Clin Microbiol

Abstract:

Herpes simplex viral (HSV) keratitis is a common and serious external ocular infection leading to unilateral blindness primarily because of its recurrent nature. Despite considerable progress in understanding of the virus at cellular and molecular levels, the proper management of the disease in its different stages is still a dilemma particularly whether to use antiviral or steroids or both. The risk of using steroids with its attendant complications has to be weighed against the risk of progression of the disease if avoiding the use of steroids. This dilemma can be reduced to a considerable extent if basic principles of virology and pathogenesis are kept in mind. This article reviews current concepts of virological and clinical aspects of HSV keratitis to enable a broad understanding of the disease process. It is recognized several influential host factors including the fact that HSK is more common in men than women. It is observed that the ability of HSV to establish latent infection in sensory neurons and possibly cornea but have as yet been unable to use this knowledge to prevent the disease limitations. Acknowledging limitations may further stimulate application of laboratory knowledge in coping with HSK which constitutes to present major challenge in terms of management.

Biography :

Qamar Gulzar is currently a student of Avalon University School of Medicine, Curacao working under the supervision of Prof. M. V. Rao.

Email: qamargulzar@gmail.com