How old do children have to be to be seropositive for HSV?

How old do children have to be to be seropositive for HSV?

While 30% of children less than 5 years old in lower socioeconomic populations are seropositive for HSV, only 20% of middle class children have seroconverted. Children in the lower socioeconomic populations have a high rate of seroconversion so that 70–80% of children are seropositive by adolescence.

How does HSV 1 prevalence increase with age?

In most studies, HSV-1 prevalence increased consistently with age across the age spectrum or plateaued after age 30. Data from the US population-based NHANES III study showed a consistent increase of HSV-1 prevalence with age, increasing from 44% in young adults (12–19 years) to 90% among those >70 years old [36].

How many people are infected with herpes simplex 2?

An estimated 417 million people aged 15-49 (11%) worldwide have HSV-2 infection. Most oral and genital herpes infections are asymptomatic. Symptoms of herpes include painful blisters or ulcers at the site of infection. Herpes infections are most contagious when symptoms are present but can still be transmitted to others in the absence of symptoms.

What kind of infections does HSV Type 2 cause?

HSV type 2 primarily causes urogenital infections and is found almost exclusively in adults. HSV type 1 is closely associated with orolabial infection, although genital infection with this virus can be common in certain populations.

Is the HSV-2 virus prevalent in older adults?

Therefore, HSV-2 infection is prevalent in older adults and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a genital or perineal ulceration or rash, especially if it is resistant to usual local care measures.

How to help an elderly person with HSV?

Counseling of older individuals with HSV genital infection should include information about the natural history, probability of recurrences, benefit of treatment, and chances for transmission. Transmission can occur in the absence of clinical symptoms or signs of an outbreak; in fact, most sexual transmission occurs due to asymptomatic shedding.

Who is most likely to get herpes simplex type 2?

A person usually gets HSV-2 (herpes simplex type 2) through sexual contact. About 20% of sexually active adults in the United States carry HSV-2. Some people are more likely to get HSV-2. These people: Had sex for the first time at a young age

Can a herpes simplex virus recur in the elderly?

Immune suppression associated with aging or other concomitant morbid conditions in the elderly may lead to an increase in the frequency of recurrences or a recrudescence after many years of no clinically recognizable outbreaks.