National seroprevalence and trends in herpes simplex virus type 1 in the United States, 1976-1994.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to estimate national seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), describe trends in seroprevalence, and examine correlates of infection.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to measure the burden of HSV-1 infection in the U.S. population.


METHODS
We tested serum samples for HSV-1 antibody and analyzed questionnaire data collected for the second and third National Health and Nutrition Surveys (NHANES II, 1976-80; NHANES III, 1988-94). Seroprevalence estimates were weighted to represent the total U.S. population.


RESULTS
At the time of NHANES III, two thirds (68%) of the U.S. population 12 years and older had HSV-1 antibody. Prevalence increased with age and varied by race/ethnicity; the majority of persons in all race/ethnic groups were HSV-1-seropositive by age 30. Overall, the national seroprevalence of HSV-1 decreased nonsignificantly by 2% in the years between NHANES II and III; decreases in HSV-1 seroprevalence in some population subgroups were balanced by increases in other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no overall change in the seroprevalence of HSV-1 in the U.S. population between NHANES II and III.
Schillinger
Julia Ann
JA
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention, Division of STD Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. jus8@cdc.gov
Xu
Fujie
F
Sternberg
Maya Raquel
MR
Armstrong
Gregory Lee
GL
Lee
Francis Kwokshun
FK
Nahmias
Andre Joseph
AJ
McQuillan
Geraldine Marie
GM
Louis
Michael Ernest
ME
Markowitz
Lauri Ellen
LE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American
D000914:Antibodies, Viral