Genital Infections With Cold-Sore Virus

Posted on | April 23, 2007 | 3 Comments

As its name suggests, HSV-2 isn’t the only herpes virus out there. HSV-1, the virus that causes cold sores, is much more common. As of 1999-2004, 57.7 percent of Americans carry the virus — down slightly from the 62 percent HSV-1 infection rate seen in 1988-1994.

There’s some bad news here: HSV-1 is causing more genital herpes than ever before. About 2 percent of people with HSV-1 infection — but not HSV-2 — have genital herpes.

“Our findings are consistent with previous reports that genital herpes caused by HSV-1 may be increasing in the United States, as in other developed countries,” Xu and colleagues note.

The researchers warn that the herpes virus that causes cold sores may one day become a more important cause of genital herpes. One factor: The increase in teen oral sex that’s helping stop HSV-2 spread may be increasing genital infections with HSV-1.

Xu and colleagues report their findings in the Aug. 23/30 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Tags: genital herpes, herpes, hsv, hsv1, hsv2, oral herpes, oral sex, sex

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