Herpes Simplex Virus in Ocular, Nasal, and Oral Secretions of Patients with Herpetic Keratitis

¹ Department of Microbiology, University of Queensland, and Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia

This survey indicates that the amount of virus present in the ocular, nasal, and oral secretions of patients with herpes simplex keratitis is small and probably does not constitute a hazard greater than that associated with the "healthy" carrier. Because these eye lesions may be present and untreated for long periods (a maximum of 44 days in this series), however, and because virus reproduction is probably taking place in a dendritic ulcer for as long as the eye is symptomatic, susceptible family contacts of such patients, as contrasted with people having only casual contact with them, are definitely at risk.