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Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus Type 1 in children in the United States.
J Pediatr 2007; 151:374-377.
Xu F, Lee FK, Morrow RA, Sternberg MR,
Luther KE, Dubn G, Markowitz LE.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe HSV-1 seroprevalence in children in the United States
and to examine factors associated with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)
infection in children. STUDY DESIGN: Sera samples available from 2989 children
age 6 to 13 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination
Surveys (NHANES) 1999-2002 were tested for HSV-1 antibodies using a type-specific
immunodot assay. HSV-1 seroprevalence in children age 12 to 13 years was compared
with that reported in an earlier survey (NHANES 1988-1994). RESULTS: Overall,
HSV-1 seroprevalence in children age 6 to 13 years was 31.1% (95% confidence
interval [CI], 28.6% to 33.9%). Seroprevalence increased with age, from 26.3%
in 6- to 7-year-olds to 36.1% in 12-to 13-year-olds, and varied by race/ethnicity,
birthplace, and poverty level. Among US-born children age 12 to 13 years,
the point estimate of HSV-1 seroprevalence was lower in NHANES 1999-2002 than
in NHANES 1988-1994 (34.3% vs 38.1%), but the differences were not statistically
significant. CONCLUSIONS: HSV-1 is a common infection in US children, with
more than 25% infected by age 7. Race/ethnicity, birthplace, and poverty level
are predictors for HSV-1 infection in children.