title: Self-reported herpes labialis in a Swedish population.
abstract: In a cross-sectional study, the occurrence of a self-reported history of labial herpes was evaluated. The study population comprised a stratified random sample of 5,000 individuals, aged 0-60 y, from south-west Sweden. A questionnaire, together with written and photographic descriptions of labial herpes lesions, was sent to the participants. Of 5,000 questionnaires sent out, 3597 (72%) were returned. In answer to the question "Have you ever had herpes?" the point estimate was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.1%-28.1%) and for the question "Have you had herpes in the last 2 y?" it was 19.4 (95% CI 18.0-20.8). The proportion of individuals who had had herpes was higher for the older age groups. About 5% of children aged < or = 5 y had experienced labial herpes. Herpes was more frequently reported by females than males: odds ratio 1.29 (95% CI 1.10-1.51). Compared to previous studies in Sweden, our data do not indicate that the occurrence of labial herpes lesions has decreased.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. gun-britt.lowhagen@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Gun-Britt
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Löwhagen
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonde
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nordin
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tunbäck
authors.forename: Ingela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Krantz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006560:Herpes Labialis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology