Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 in children in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
To describe HSV-1 seroprevalence in children in the United States and to examine factors associated with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection in children.


METHODS
Sera samples available from 2989 children age 6 to 13 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 1999-2002 were tested for HSV-1 antibodies using a type-specific immunodot assay. HSV-1 seroprevalence in children age 12 to 13 years was compared with that reported in an earlier survey (NHANES 1988-1994).


RESULTS
Overall, HSV-1 seroprevalence in children age 6 to 13 years was 31.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 28.6% to 33.9%). Seroprevalence increased with age, from 26.3% in 6- to 7-year-olds to 36.1% in 12-to 13-year-olds, and varied by race/ethnicity, birthplace, and poverty level. Among US-born children age 12 to 13 years, the point estimate of HSV-1 seroprevalence was lower in NHANES 1999-2002 than in NHANES 1988-1994 (34.3% vs 38.1%), but the differences were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
HSV-1 is a common infection in US children, with more than 25% infected by age 7. Race/ethnicity, birthplace, and poverty level are predictors for HSV-1 infection in children.
Xu
Fujie
F
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. fax1@cdc.gov
Lee
Francis K
FK
Morrow
Rhoda A
RA
Sternberg
Maya R
MR
Luther
Kristina E
KE
Dubin
Gary
G
Markowitz
Lauri E
LE
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D006801:Humans; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data