Serum HSV-1 and 2 IgM in Sexually Transmitted Diseases - More for Screening Less for Diagnosis: An Evaluation of Clinical Manifestation.
BACKGROUND
Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is the cause of most genital herpes. Now, HSV-1 has become an important cause and represents even about 30% of genital herpes in some countries. So, study related to genital herpes should consider both HSV-1 and HSV-2.


OBJECTIVE
To examine trends in HSV-1 and 2 seroprevalence by Serum HSV-1 and 2 IgM in all type of sexually transmitted disease (STD) patients and also to evaluate correlation of serum HSV-1 and 2 IgM in STD.


METHODS
150 patients attending the STD clinic attached to a tertiary care hospital of Ahmedabad were included in the study. Serum HSV-1 and 2 IgM correlations with clinical manifestations of recurrent and non-recurrent type of genital herpes patients and other non-herpetic STD patients were studied.


RESULTS
The overall serum HSV-1 and 2 IgM in STD seroprevalence were 15.66%. Female has significant higher prevalence (P < 0.05). STD cases and HSV seroprevalence were specially concentrated in persons aged 21 to 30 years. Among those positive with HSV, the distribution of STD are wide spread and found in non-herpetic group at high frequency. Out of total 23 serum HSV-1 and 2 IgM positive, 12 and 11 are distributed in herpetic and non-herpetic STDs, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Though serum HSV-1 and 2 IgM in STDs are less diagnostic, they help to see the iceberg part of the infection among the population concerned in recent scenario or in another words, it provides recent infective burden.
Department of Microbiology, Civil Hospital, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.
Dharmishtha G
DG
Tada
Nita
N
Khandelwal