Grappling with herpes gladiatorum in wrestlers: prophylactic valacyclovir.(Dermatologic Therapy)

CHICAGO -- Prophylactic valacyclovir greatly reduces outbreaks of primary herpes gladiatorum at intensive wrestling camps, Dr. Bruce J. Anderson reported at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

Herpes gladiatorum is usually caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1). Outbreaks are frequent and enormously disruptive at the intensive instructional summer camps held each year in wrestling hotbeds throughout the country. Affected wrestlers and/or coaches have to withdraw from participation until their lesions are no longer infectious, explained Dr. Anderson of the Boynton Health Service at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

At an annual Minneapolis wrestling camp, for example, an average of 15 participants per session have developed herpes gladiatorum over the past 14 years. Two years ago was a particularly bad season, with 57 of 330 participants becoming infected. The 1989 outbreak affected 60 out of 175 participants.

These large annual outbreaks occur despite a practice of routine skin screening of all wrestlers and coaches by certified athletic trainers every morning at the 28-day camp, an observation that strongly suggests viral spread typically occurs prior to vesicle formation.

Finally deciding that enough was enough, in 2002 the camp director sent advance letters to all 339 student wrestlers planning to attend the ...