title: Factors influencing herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among females in Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herpes Simplex Virus infection is a chronic infection of the sensory ganglia with variable levels of epithelial expression. An important feature of HSV infection is the recurrence of disease as a result of periodic or sporadic activation of viral replication. In addition, asymptomatic shedding of herpes viruses may play a significant role in transmission from person to person. This infection being lifelong manifests only in a small proportion of those infected. It has presented public health concern because of its progressively increasing prevalence which some reports say is of epidemic proportion in developing countries and also for its synergistic effect with HIV infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Determination of antibody prevalence to HSV-2/co-infection with HIV among females attending skin and ANC clinics in UNTH and ESUTH.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eighty suitably qualified subjects were appropriately recruited over a period of six months into this study. Essential information was collected using a questionnaire. Venous blood was also obtained for HSV 2 serology, HIV screening, and confirmation, if positive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The antibody prevalence of HSV 2 was found to be 77.8% (n = 137) and 14.6% (n = 20) had clinical diagnosis. The HIV and HSV-2 co-infection rate was 5.11% (n = 9). The risk factors for groups 1 [HSV2 Infection] and 2 [HSV2 & HIV co-infection] were similar with few differences, thus buttressing the fact that their modes of transmission are similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors influencing Herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among females in Enugu included among other things older age and increasing number of lifetime sexual partners.
authors: U R
authors: UR
authors: Ojinmah
authors: G A O
authors: GA
authors: Ozoh
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Onyekonwu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral