genital herpes
Quality of life and use of health care among people with genital herpes in France.

Taboulet F, Halioua B, Malkin JE.

Pharmaceutical Law and Economics, Universite Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, France.

In order to assess psychological morbidity in France related to genital herpes infection, we carried out a transversal study comparing infected patients with a control group. A total of 236 patients with genital herpes were first identified by means of a postal survey, then matched against a witness group of 236 noninfected persons. Detailed questionnaires were sent out to each person in the 2 groups. A total of 150 herpes patients and 200 non-infected persons answered the questionnaire, which enabled us to measure the incidence of the disease by means of 2 indicators: a herpes-specific scale and the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire. Emotional trauma due to genital herpes was reported amongst 23% of the participants. Of the participants, 57% indicated that herpes interfered with their sexual relationships; 50% felt it difficult to live with genital herpes; and 37% felt that herpes ruins their lives. An analysis assessing health-related quality of life indicated significant differences between the scores of the 2 groups and showed that quality of life is lower amongst herpes patients. Respondents with genital herpes required more frequent consultations with GPs (81% vs. 73%), and significantly more frequent consultations with specialists (59% vs. 45%). Our study confirms that substantial psychological morbidity exists in patients with genital herpes.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10494718&dopt=Abstract genital herpes



genital herpes
Rising incidence of genital herpes over two decades in a sexually transmitted disease clinic in north India.

Kumar B, Sahoo B, Gupta S, Jain R.

Department of Dermatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Genital herpes, which was considered to be a minor sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the past in developing countries, is rapidly increasing; in contrast, bacterial STDs are declining. This changing trend of various STDs prompted us to analyze our data retrospectively to see whether a similar change is occurring in this part of India as well. The records of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) clinic attendees from January 1977 to December 2000 were analyzed. The demographic profile of patients with genital herpes was also considered for analysis. STDs were diagnosed clinically and by appropriate laboratory tests wherever applicable. VDRL test was done in all patients, and HIV antibody detection was performed from 1987 onwards. The incidences of chancroid, donovanosis, and gonorrhea were 12.2%, 6.3%, and 16.9%, respectively, from January 1977 to December 1985. The figures for the same decreased to 2.5%, 0.9%, and 2.3%, respectively, from January 1993 to December 2000. The decreasing incidence of the above bacterial STDs is statistically significant (p<0.001). However, there was an approximately two-fold increase in the incidence of genital herpes in recent years (20.5%) in comparison to the figures from the late 70s (11.4%). Molluscum contagiosum also showed an upward trend (1% in 1977-85 vs. 9.8% in 1993-2000). Condylomata accuminata remained almost unchanged (21.4% in 1977-85 vs. 20% in 1993-2000). To conclude, a significant increase in the number of viral STDs and a decline in the bacterial diseases were observed in recent years in comparison to the figures from the late 70s. This may be due to awareness of HIV, success of control programs, syndromic management of STDs, and adoption of safer sexual practices, which prevent bacterial STDs more efficiently than viral ones.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11890299&dopt=Abstract genital herpes



genital herpes
College students' attitudes regarding vaccination to prevent genital herpes.

Rosenthal SL, Lewis LM, Succop PA, Bernstein DI, Stanberry LR.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio, USA.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vaccines represent an important strategy for the control of infectious diseases but are only effective if accepted by the public. Unique attitudinal issues may affect usage of vaccines to control sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The object of this study was to examine among college students factors that may influence acceptance of a vaccine against genital herpes. GOALS: To examine attitudes regarding acceptance of vaccination for genital herpes by college students using aspects of health behavior theories. STUDY DESIGN: Subjects were recruited from an undergraduate psychology class to complete a questionnaire regarding attitudes and beliefs about receiving a potential genital herpes vaccine. RESULTS: Of the 518 subjects, 100 would not get the vaccine, 207 would, and 211 were unsure. In the final models, factors that influenced acceptance were low cost and an opinion that the vaccine should be recommended for everyone. Those who were unsure were more likely to be influenced by an opinion that the vaccine would be unsuccessful. While not remaining in the final models, those who believed they were at low risk of acquiring genital herpes were unlikely to accept a genital herpes vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that most college students would not reject vaccination, a priori, against genital herpes. Vaccine acceptance may be maximized if vaccine cost is low, the public is educated regarding risk of acquiring genital herpes, and public health policy encourages universal vaccination.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10494934&dopt=Abstract genital herpes



genital herpes
College students' knowledge and perceptions of genital herpes.

Lewis LM, Rosenthal SL, Succop PA, Stanberry LR, Bernstein DI.

Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.

Given the rising prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and the lack of accurate information about STDs in general, it is important to understand specific aspects of knowledge and attitudes regarding genital herpes acquisition among college students. This study examined the knowledge and attitudes regarding HSV-2 among college students by recruiting subjects (n=518) from an undergraduate psychology class to complete a questionnaire. The percentage of students answering individual knowledge items correctly ranged from 67% to 99%. The media was a common source of information, and almost one-third of the students anticipated that their care provider would think negatively of them should they acquire the disease. There were gender differences in care-seeking behaviour, knowledge, and attitudes, with females having a more negative view of themselves if they acquired the disease. This study pointed to the challenges in ensuring accurate knowledge about genital herpes that will encourage preventive behaviours without causing undue alarm or shame.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10563555&dopt=Abstract genital herpes



genital herpes
[Study of serum levels of interlukin-2 and its receptor, interlukin-6, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 in patients with recurrent genital herpes]

[Article in Chinese]

Zhang M, Zhang Y.

Department of Dermatovenerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.

OBJECTIVE: To study cellular immunity status and serum levels of adhesion molecules of patients with recurrent genital herpes. METHODS: Serum levels of interlukin-2 and its soluble receptor, interlukin-6, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 were measured by ELISA in 34 patients with recurrent genital herpes. RESULTS: The serum levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were significantly lower in patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.01). The levels of sIL-2R, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.05). No significant differences were seen in all variables of patients in relapse phase and remission phase (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There are cellular immunity deficiency and high serum levels of adhesion molecules in patients with recurrent genital herpes, and these changes may be related to therecurrence of genital herpes and the development of inflammatory reaction.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15600189&dopt=Abstract genital herpes



genital herpes
The clinical management of recurrent genital herpes: current issues and future prospects.

Barton SE, Ebel CE, Kirchner JT, Mertz GJ.

Department of Genitourinary Medicine, St Stephen's Centre, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK. simon.barton chelwest.nhs.uk

This article reports the proceedings of an expert panel discussion on current clinical management practices for the treatment of recurrent genital herpes. The panel reviewed the effectiveness of primary and specialist care settings in the UK and USA and identified the principal clinical needs of patients with recurrent genital herpes. The ideal alternative to daily suppressive nucleoside analogue therapy is a treatment with long-term impact on the natural history and prognosis of recurrent genital herpes. The potential of resiquimod, an immune response modifier, to resolve this unmet need was examined. Resiquimod is reported to delay the onset of recurrent genital herpes symptoms in patients in a Phase II clinical trial. While awaiting clinical confirmation of this new development in immunotherapy, the panel concluded with two recommendations: a reassessment of recurrent genital herpes management in terms of physician education of patients, and the promotion of a positive patient-physician relationship in the approach to treatment.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11916495&dopt=Abstract genital herpes



genital herpes
Genital herpes in adolescents.

Auslander BA, Biro FM, Rosenthal SL.

Department of Pediatrics and Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0319, USA. baauslan utmb.edu

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections occur commonly among adolescents. Most HSV-2 infections are genital, but genital herpes can be caused by either HSV-1 or HSV-2. Weighted means were calculated based on published seroprevalence data on adolescents from the United States and found HSV-1 rates of 53.1 percent for adolescent males and 49.4 percent for adolescent females. The weighted means for HSV-2 was 15 percent for adolescent females and 12 percent for adolescent males. Most individuals who are infected with HSV-2 are unaware of their infection. Healthcare providers of adolescents should consider genital herpes even when an adolescent presents with nonspecific genital symptoms. In this article, we review current recommendations for diagnosis and management and review the psychological sequelae that can be associated with having genital herpes. Finally, we discuss biomedical interventions that are being developed to help reduce the epidemic of HSV and the challenges that these interventions face with regard to implementation.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15685146&dopt=Abstract genital herpes