HSV-1 is likely cause of new genital infections: current prevalence estimates including only HSV-2 may 'greatly underestimate the amount of genital herpes.'.(Clinical Rounds)

Publication: Skin & Allergy News

Publication Date: 01-AUG-05

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COPYRIGHT 2005 International Medical News Group

BETHESDA, MD. -- Herpes simplex virus 1 has emerged as an important genital pathogen and is more likely than herpes simplex virus 2 to be the cause of primary genital herpes infections in young women, Sharon L. Hillier, Ph.D., said at a conference on vulvovaginal diseases.

Young, sexually active women are more susceptible to HSV-1 because most do not have protective antibodies to HSV-1 due to the dramatic drop in childhood HSV-1 infections, said Dr. Hillier, director, reproductive infectious disease research, Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh.

Among the major implications of this trend is the potential utility...

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