Question

Challenges associated with Kaposi’s sacoma associated herpes virus

Answer 1

Herpes viruses are a large group of viruses that produce a rash, which spread during the infection. These are the enveloped DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) viruses.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV 6), and HHV 7 causes roseola, and herpesvirus 8 causes Kaposi sarcoma.

Kaposi sarcoma is a tumor occurring in AIDS (acquired immune-deficiency patients), but can also occur in other individuals infected with HHV 8. It is isolated from the tissues of sarcoma patients and is not found in individuals without Kaposi sarcoma.

The challenges in the prevention and treatment of HHV 8:

• The infection can spread through asymptomatic patients, so prevention is difficult
• As the HIV patients are already immune-compromised and the HHV 8 involves the lymph nodes, controlling the spread of infection is difficult. However, surgical removal of the tumor and radiation therapy are found effective
• The antiviral drugs such as gancyclovir can prevent the infection if given prophylactically but are of no use if the tumor is established