Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUSES
Herpesviruses; 3:1-44 1985. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/86616129 Whitley RJ; Dept. of Pediatrics, Univ. of Alabama Sch. of Medicine,; Birmingham, AL 45294
Abstract:
The epidemiology of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in man and historical developments, including the clinical and social significance of these infections, are reviewed. Although HSV-1 and HSV-2 are usually transmitted by different routes and involve different areas of the body (HSV-1 above the waist and HSV-2 below the waist), there is a great deal of overlap between their expressions. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 12 days and the duration of the disease from 10 to 16 days. The mouth and lips are clearly the most common sites of HSV-1 infections with symptomology ranging from totally asymptomatic to fever, sore throat, ulcerative and vesicular lesions, gingivostomatitis, edema, localized lymphadenopathy, anorexia, and malaise. Geographic location, socioeconomic status and age influence the frequency of HSV infection, regardless of the mode of assessment. Sexual transmission is the primary route of spread of HSV-2 and the mean duration of disease in patients with primary genital HSV infections is 19 days. Women appear to have the highest rate of infection, particularly prostitutes and others with multiple sex partners. Factors associated with the recurrence of HSV-1 lesions are highly stereotyped and include stress, fatigue, menses, and exposure to sunlight. Diseases of epidemiologic importance that are caused by HSV's include herpes keratoconjunctivitis; skin infections (usually manifest as eczema herpeticum); HSV infections of the immunocompromised host; HSV infections of the newborn which can result in a broad spectrum of involvement ranging from skin vesicles to disseminated organ involvement; and infections of the nervous systems such as herpes simplex encephalitis, meningitis, and myelitis. Clustered outbreaks of human HSV infections have been reported, however, there is no indication from either clinical or molecular epidemiologic studies that these viruses cause epidemic diseases. Although HSV-2 has been associated with cervical carcinoma, current information does not allow for conclusive statements as to the relationship between HSV of the genital tract and cervical carcinoma. (238 Refs)
Keywords: Adult Antigens, Viral/GENETICS Bibliography Cervix Neoplasms/EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY Encephalitis/EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY Female Herpes Genitalis/EPIDEMIOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Herpes Simplex/EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Herpesviridae Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Human Infant, Newborn Keratoconjunctivitis/EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY Male Recurrence Simplexvirus/IMMUNOLOGY Space-Time Clustering BIBLIOGRAPHY JOURNAL ARTICLE
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
