title: National seroprevalence and trends in herpes simplex virus type 1 in the United States, 1976-1994.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention, Division of STD Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. jus8@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Julia Ann
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schillinger
authors.forename: Fujie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Maya Raquel
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.forename: Gregory Lee
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Francis Kwokshun
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Andre Joseph
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nahmias
authors.forename: Geraldine Marie
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: McQuillan
authors.forename: Michael Ernest
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: Lauri Ellen
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Markowitz
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral