Herpes simplex virus type 2 seroprevalence in Korea: rapid increase of HSV-2 seroprevalence in the 30s in the southern part.
To determine the characteristics of seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection among Korean people, a cross-sectional study was conducted on three groups in 2004. The three groups consisted of the general public who visited public health centers, commercial sex workers (CSWs), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. Among the general public, HSV-2 seroprevalence rates for age under the 20s, in the 20s, 30s, 40s and the above 22.6%, 32.7% and 32.3%, respectively, which showed rapid increase of the rate in the 30s (p<0.0001). In case of the above of 19 yr old, women (28.0%) was higher than men (21.7%) (p<0.0001). The rate of CSWs (81.6%) was about 10 times higher than that of general women. In case of HIV-infected men (47.6%), the figure was about 2-3 times higher than that of general men. The low rate in the teens and the 20s proved that it is essential to develop sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prevention programs of education and publicity for them as a precaution measure. This study is the first major study of its kind on HSV-2 and would provide basic data for prevention of STIs including information about target groups subject to vaccination program.
Shin
Haeng Seop
HS
Division of AIDS, Center for Immunology and Pathology, National Institute of Health, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Jeong Joo
JJ
Chu
Chaeshin
C
Song
Hyeon Je
HJ
Cho
Kyung Soon
KS
Lee
Joo Shil
JS
Kim
Sung Soon
SS
Kee
Mee Kyung
MK
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006558:Herpes Genitalis; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral