Use of a povidone-iodine alcoholic solution in the treatment of herpes genitalis: a preliminary study

Abstract

A preliminary evaluation was carried out in 23 patients with herpes genitalis to assess the effectiveness of a 10% alcoholic povidone-iodine solution applied twice daily for up to 14 days. Clinical diagnosis was supported by positive herpes simplex virus culture in 14 patients. The lesions cleared after an average of 8.9 days' treatment in 8 males presenting with herpes genitalis for the first time, and in 6.1 days in 9 males with recurrent infection, 6 of whom had shown no apparent improvement on other therapies. The 4 female patients presenting with herpes genitalis for the first time all showed substantial improvement or complete remission within 7 days, and the lesions in the 2 women with recurrent infection cleared within the same period. In view of these satisfactory findings, a double-blind controlled study of povidone-iodine is now being undertaken.