What are the key viral STIs (HSV, HPV, HIV)?

• Genital herpes (HSV) - painful genital blisters/ulcers, recurrent; managed with antivirals (e.g. aciclovir); no cure
• HPV - causes genital warts (low-risk types) and cervical/other cancers (high-risk 16/18); prevented by the HPV vaccine
• HIV - causes progressive immunodeficiency (AIDS); managed with lifelong antiretroviral therapy; vertical transmission is preventable

Clinical relevance. Knowing the viral STIs (HSV recurrent ulcers, HPV warts/cancer, HIV immunodeficiency) guides their management and prevention.

More Detail

Key viral STIs

HSV, HPV, and HIV are important viral STIs with distinct features.

Genital herpes (HSV-1/HSV-2)

• Causes painful genital blisters/vesicles that ulcerate, often with the first episode being most severe; recurrences occur (the virus is latent in nerve ganglia).
• No cure; managed with antivirals (aciclovir) for episodes/suppression; risk of neonatal herpes if active at delivery.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

• Low-risk types (6, 11) cause genital warts.
• High-risk types (16, 18) cause cervical (and other) cancers.
• Prevented by the HPV vaccine; warts treated topically/physically.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

• Causes progressive immunodeficiency (AIDS) by destroying CD4 T-cells; may have a seroconversion illness.
• Managed with lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) - effective treatment gives a near-normal life expectancy and undetectable = untransmittable.
• Vertical (mother-to-child) transmission is largely preventable with ART and appropriate delivery/feeding management.

Note

• Genital ulceration (e.g. HSV) increases the risk of HIV acquisition/transmission.