ABSTRACT
The aims of antiviral therapy for the acute viral infections should be early resolution of signs and symptoms associated with the disease as well as prevention of secondary complications. Most successful antiviral drugs, such as idoxuridine, vidarabine and zidovudine, are nucleoside analogues that selectively interfere with viral nucleic acid synthesis by inhibiting viral polymerases. The aims of treatment for acute infection include some or all of the following: relief of signs and symptoms of acute viral illnesses, early resolution of viral lesions, reduction in viral shedding and prevention of secondary complications. The emergence of drug-resistant strains of poliovirus was reported in laboratories as early as 1961, but the clinical significance of drug-resistance has not been adequately evaluated, because of limited clinical use of antiviral drugs. In chronic infections the emergence of resistant strains should always be considered a possible cause for the loss of response to drug therapy.
