title: Genital herpes simplex virus type 1 infection: new fields for an old acquaintance?
abstract: Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 is the principal agent of chronic remittent genital herpes. Worldwide, only 10-20% of genital isolates are HSV-1. Studies from the British Isles and Scandinavia indicate, however, that HSV-1 is responsible for a significant proportion or even the majority of first clinical episodes of genital herpes in young women. Actual data show that a trend towards genital HSV-1 infections may also hold true for Germany. This article summarizes possible reasons for and consequences of the observed changes in the epidemiology of genital HSV infections.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Abteilung Klinische Virologie, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lippelt
authors.forename: Rüdiger W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Joachim E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kühn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D006801:Humans; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology