A Cross-Sectional Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 in College Students: Occurrence and Determinants of Infection

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases 1990-08, Vol.162 (2), p.306-312
• Main Authors: Gibson, James J., Hornung, Carlton A., Alexander, Greg R., Lee, Francis K., Potts, W. A., Nahmias, Andre J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; African Americans; Age Factors; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Cohort Studies; College students; Cross-Sectional Studies; Epidemiology; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genital herpes; Genitalia; Herpes Genitalis - complications; Herpes Genitalis - epidemiology; Herpes Labialis - complications; Herpes Labialis - epidemiology; Herpes Simplex - complications; Herpes Simplex - epidemiology; herpes simplex virus 2; Human herpesvirus 1; Human herpesvirus 2; Human sexual behavior; Humans; Infections; Major Articles; Male; Microbiology; Prevalence; Sex Factors; Sexual Behavior; Sexually transmitted diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - complications; Simplexvirus; Simplexvirus - immunology; Socioeconomic Factors; Southeastern United States - epidemiology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Virology
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/162.2.306

Occurrence rates and determinants ofinfection with herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) were measured in first- and fourth-year undergraduate students at a state university. This cross-sectional multistage probability sample survey included sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behavior patterns, disease history, and HSV type-specific antibody status. The prevalence of HSV-1 antibody was 37.2% in freshmen and 46.1% in fourth-year students; that for HSV-2 antibody was 0.4% and 4.3%, respectively. A history of cold sores was obtained in 25.6% of the freshmen; none had a history of manifest genital herpes. A history of cold sores was obtained in 28% and a history ofgenital herpes in 1.1% ofthe fourth-year students. The case-weighted prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV:-2 antibodies was found to be significantly elevated for a number of student characteristics. However, multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that the significant predictors ofHSV:-l antibodies in this population were female gender, black race, first intercourse at age ~15 years, total years of sexual activity, history of a partner with oral sores, and a personal history of a non-HSV sexually transmitted disease (STD). Predictors of HSV:-2 antibody were black race, duration of sexual activity, and history of a non-HSV STD.