ReviewCanadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien2008
Treatment and prevention of herpes labialis.
Review in Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 2008. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 35 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
35 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 60 citations in OpenAlex.
- Comparison of photobiomodulation therapy with conventional treatment in patients with herpes labialis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Lasers in medical science · 2025Pooled it
- Lysine supplementation is not effective for the prevention or treatment of feline herpesvirus 1 infection in cats: a systematic review.BMC veterinary research · 2015Pooled it
- Interventions for prevention of herpes simplex labialis (cold sores on the lips).The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2015Pooled it
- Effectiveness of topical corticosteroids in addition to antiviral therapy in the management of recurrent herpes labialis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC infectious diseases · 2015Pooled it
- Herpes labialis.BMJ clinical evidence · 2009Pooled it
- Antiviral Agents for the Prevention and Treatment of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 Infection in Clinical Oncology: A Network Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Trial
- Immunotherapy of Recurrent Herpes Labialis With Squaric Acid.JAMA dermatology · 2017Trial
- Low-dose Oral Thimerosal for the Treatment of Oral Herpes: Clinical Trial Results and Improved Outcome After Post-hoc Analysis.Journal of evidence-based integrative medicineTrial
- Therapeutic Impact of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester and Acyclovir Combination on Human Gingival Fibroblasts (HGF-1) Infected With Herpes Simplex Type 1 ICP0.MicrobiologyOpen · 2026Article
- The Association Between Repeated Lip Augmentation With Hyaluronic Acid Filler and Recurrence of Herpes Labialis: A Longitudinal Self-controlled Study.Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2026Article
- Clinical guidelines for herpes labialis: recommendations and quality evaluation according to AGREE II.Acta odontologica latinoamericana : AOL · 2024Review
- Article
- Instantaneous Inactivation of Herpes Simplex Virus by Silicon Nitride Bioceramics.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Article
- Blue Laser Light Counteracts HSV-1 in the SH-SY5Y Neuronal Cell Model of Infection.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Medical-Grade Honey Outperforms Conventional Treatments for Healing Cold Sores-A Clinical Study.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- Oral gel loaded with penciclovir-lavender oil nanoemulsion to enhance bioavailability and alleviate pain associated with herpes labialis.Drug delivery · 2021Article
- The Durability of Vaccine Efficacy against Ocular HSV-1 Infection Using ICP0 Mutants 0∆NLS and 0∆RING Is Lost over Time.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- Transdermal drug delivery systems for fighting common viral infectious diseases.Drug delivery and translational research · 2021Review
- Guideline for the Management Herpes Simplex 1 and Cosmetic Interventions.The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · 2021Article
- Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo review the evidence regarding the treatment and prevention of herpes labialis. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: The evidence relating to treatment and prevention of herpes labialis is derived from randomized controlled trials (level I evidence). MAIN MESSAGE: Treatment with an indifferent cream (zinc oxide or zinc sulfate), an anesthetic cream, or an antiviral cream has a small favourable effect on the duration of symptoms, if applied promptly. This is also the case with oral antiviral medication. If antiviral medicine (cream or oral) is started before exposure to the triggering factor (sunlight), it will provide some protection. Research on sunscreens has shown mixed results: some protection has been reported under experimental conditions that could not be replicated under natural conditions. In the long term, the number of relapses of herpes labialis can be limited with oral antiviral medication.
conclusionOnly prompt topical or oral therapy will alleviate symptoms of herpes labialis. Both topical and oral treatment can contribute to the prevention of herpes labialis.
Indexed as
Identifiers
19074705PMC2602638W2148096971What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.