THE IMPACT OF CHRONIC STRESS ON THE CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF ORAL HERPETIC LESION

Human herpesvirus infections are among the most common viral diseases in the world and are character-ised by their ability to persist in the host's body for life, forming a latent state. According to the WHO, about 67% of the population under the age of 50 is infected with herpes simplex virus type 1, with clinically mani-fested forms observed only in some carriers, and only a small percentage of patients seek medical help. This leads to late diagnosis, fragmented therapy, and a lack of a personalized approach to preventing recurrence. In conditions of prolonged stress, in particular the COVID-19 pandemic and the military conflict in Ukraine, the problem of psycho-emotional exhaustion of the population is becoming increasingly relevant. It has been proven that chronic stress contributes to immunosuppression, disruption of neuroendocrine regula-tion, and reactivation of latent herpesviruses, which can clinically manifest as recurrent herpetic stomatitis. Psycho-emotional disorders are also associated with the development of vegetative-visceral dysfunctions, in particular cardiac, gastrointestinal and infectious-respiratory disorders, which emphasizes the systemic na-ture of the problem. This study aimed to investigate and analyze the relationship between chronic anxiety and the clinical manifestations of recurrent herpetic stomatitis in young adults. This study was designed as a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey to evaluate the association between chronic psycho-emotional stress levels and the occurrence of clinically manifested recurrences of oral herpetic infection. The study pro-tocol adhered to established bioethical principles and was conducted with the voluntary informed consent of all participants. The study involved 178 respondents aged 21 years and older who permanently reside in Ukraine and have a medical background. Data collection was conducted remotely using the Google Forms platform at Poltava State Medical University. The relative homogeneity of the sample in terms of age and educational characteristics contributed to the reliability of the comparative analysis of psycho-emotional and clinical indicators. The results demonstrated that a moderate level of perceived chronic stress predominates within the study population, reflecting the substantial psycho-emotional burden associated with contemporary socio-professional conditions. Clinically manifest herpetic lesions of the oral mucosa and lips were identified in fewer than 25% of respondents, consistent with the predominance of latent or subclinical infection despite the high seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus. A tendency toward a higher frequency of recurrences was observed among individuals with elevated anxiety levels and chronic stress. The practical significance of the study lies in increasing awareness among healthcare professionals of the role of psycho-emotional fac-tors in the course of chronic recurrent herpetic stomatitis. The application of structured questionnaires to as-sess the psychological status of patients enables to develop a more personalized approach to therapeutic and preventive strategies, optimizes comprehensive treatment, and contributes to reducing recurrence rates. The findings may serve as a foundation for the development of individualized patient management protocols incorporating modern approaches, including photobiomodulation with a diode laser.