Evaluación del potencial antiviral de anestésicos locales como Lidocaína y Prilocaína contra el virus Herpes Simplex tipo 1: revisión sistemática de la literatura

Abstract

Herpes labialis correspond to an orofacial infection caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1. It is a contagious pathology that can cause significant discomfort and/or pain, and is characterized by recurrent vesicular eruptions on the perioral tissue and mainly on the lips. Conventional treatment is based on the use of topical or systemic antivirals, such as acyclovir and its derivatives. However, the problem arises that it has limited efficacy, and there is evidence of resistance mechanisms to these drugs that generate common relapse episodes, which is especially complex in immunocompromised patients. In addition, treatment with acyclovir cream does not cause a decrease in the duration or severity of pain, when applied after the appearance of the first prodromal symptoms. Local anesthetics used in dentistry, such as lidocaine and prilocaine, have been shown to have antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity, which is why it has been considered as an alternative topical treatment that presents advantages in its complementary use to conventional treatment by reducing the duration of signs and symptoms, offering greater protection from the injury, and decreasing the duration of treatment.