title: Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2--United States, 1999-2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are common infections with serious sequelae. HSV-1 is an increasingly important cause of genital herpes in industrialized countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we examined HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence among 14- to 49-year-olds in the United States. We estimated seroprevalence in 1999-2004 and 2005-2010, stratified by sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors. We also reviewed HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence from 1976-1980 to 2005-2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2005-2010, the seroprevalence of HSV-1 was 53.9%, and the seroprevalence of HSV-2 was 15.7%. From 1999-2004 to 2005-2010, HSV-1 seroprevalence declined by nearly 7% (P < .01), but HSV-2 seroprevalence did not change significantly. The largest decline in HSV-1 seroprevalence from 1999-2004 to 2005-2010 was observed among adolescents aged 14-19 years, among whom seroprevalence declined by nearly 23%, from 39.0% to 30.1% (P < .01). In this age group, HSV-1 seroprevalence declined >29% from 1976-1980 to 2005-2010 (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An increasing number of adolescents lack HSV-1 antibodies at sexual debut. In the absence of declines in HSV-2 infections, the prevalence of genital herpes may increase.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of STD Prevention.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Lauri E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Markowitz
authors.forename: Theda
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Geraldine M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: McQuillan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: HSV-1; HSV-2; NHANES; adolescents; genital herpes; herpes simplex virus