Epidemiology of orofacial herpes simplex virus infections in the general population in France: results of the HERPIMAX study.
BACKGROUND
Prevalence of clinically manifest orofacial herpes in the general population is poorly characterized. Objectives To establish the lifetime prevalence of clinically manifest orofacial herpes and its relationship with herpes simplex virus (HSV) serotype in the French general population.


METHODS
Subjects (N = 2796) were serotyped for HSV1 and HSV2 and provided data on herpetic symptoms by questionnaire. Subjects reporting at least one episode of orobuccal ulcerative mucosal lesions were classified as clinically manifest orofacial herpes.


RESULTS
Lifetime prevalence of clinically manifest orofacial herpes was 38.3% (42.1% in women, 32.4% in men). Prevalence in subjects seropositive for HSV1 was 50.3%. This prevalence rate was independent of HSV2 serotype. Prevalence in subjects infected with HSV2 alone was similar to that in subjects seronegative for HSV.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of case ascertainment limits precision of the data.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinically manifest orofacial herpes was reported in one third of the sample, principally associated with HSV1 infection. HSV2 infection did not produce orofacial lesions nor influence clinical manifestations of HSV1 infection.
Malvy
D
D
Département des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux and Centre René-Labusquière, Université de Bordeaux II, Bordeaux, France.
Ezzedine
K
K
Lançon
F
F
Halioua
B
B
Rezvani
A
A
Bertrais
S
S
Chanzy
B
B
Malkin
J-E
JE
Morand
P
P
De Labareyre
C
C
Hercberg
S
S
El Hasnaoui
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006560:Herpes Labialis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013283:Stomatitis, Herpetic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires