Viral infections

Abstract

Key Features: Viruses are ubiquitous in nature, and most viral infections are self-limiting. As many as 80% of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are asymptomatic, although recurrent infection is associated with signifi-cant morbidity, particularly in immunocom-promised hosts. In 1995, the introduction and widespread vaccination against the varicella zoster virus in the US substantially decreased the incidence of chickenpox. Different serotypes of the HPV cause characteristic, site-specific lesions. Molluscum contagiosum is most common in children aged 3-9 Hand, foot, and mouth disease epidemics occur in the US on an average of every 3 years, with children less than 5 years of age being most commonly affected. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.