How Many People In America Have Herpes
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How Many People In America Have Herpes
Herpes
Last updated: Feb 05, 2021
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Holmes, K. K., Sparling P. F., Stamm, W. E., Pilot, P., Wasserheit, J. N., Corey, L., et al. (Eds.). (2008). Sexually Transmitted Diseases (4th ed., pp. 399–437). McGraw-Hill. Doi: 10.1036/0071417486. Retrieved from http://opac.lib.idu.ac.id/unhan-ebook/assets/uploads/files/9f48a-sexually-transmitted-diseases-4th-ed-by-king-holmes-p.-sparling-walter-stamm-peter-piot-judith-wasserheit-lawrence-corey-myron-cohen_compressed.pdf
Looker, K. J., Magaret, A. S., May, M. T., Turner, K. M. E., Vickerman, P., Gottlieb, S. L., et al. (2015). Global and Regional Estimates of Prevalent and Incident Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infections in 2012. Plos One , 10 (10). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140765. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26510007
Satterwhite, C. L., Torrone, E., Meites, E., Dunne, E. F., Mahajan, R., Ocfemia, M. C. B., et al. (2013). Sexually Transmitted Infections Among US Women and Men. Sexually Transmitted Diseases , 40 (3), 187–193. doi: 10.1097/olq.0b013e318286bb53. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23403598
Whitley, R. J. (1996). Herpesvirus. In Medical Microbiology (4th ed.). Galveston, TX: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8157/
World Health Organization (WHO). (2017, January 31). Herpes simplex virus. Retrieved Feb. 1, 2020, from https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus
Yura, Y., Iga, H., Kondo, Y., Harada, K., Yanagawa, T., Yoshida, H., et al. (1991). Herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 infection in human oral mucosa in culture. Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine , 20 (2), 68–73. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1991.tb00892.x. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0714.1991.tb00892.x
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HSV-1, which people associate with cold sores or fever blisters, affects almost half of Americans between the ages of 14 and 49. HSV-2, which people associate with genital herpes, affects 11.9% of Americans.
Written by
Linnea Zielinski
If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Let’s say you live in an apartment building. There could easily be 100 people living in your building, even if it’s only a couple of stories tall. But despite that large number of people living in a small building, you’ll still probably only see the same few over and over again because you’re on the same schedule. That’s a little like herpes . (Stick with me.) Herpes is actually a family of viruses with over 100 members ( Whitley, 1996 ). But despite the massive family tree, only eight of these viruses routinely infect humans.
But even within that subset of neighbors you actually see in the hall, you probably only think about a couple. Maybe it’s your own Mr. Heckles downstairs a la Friends or, hopefully, someone you befriended. Whatever it is, they stand out. Herpes is also like that. Some types of herpes, like herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) , get all of the attention because they cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs) . The other types of herpes are way more common than you think, though. Other viruses from this same family can cause illnesses like chickenpox, mononucleosis (mono) , and also shingles .
Prescription genital herpes treatment—right to your door
Talk with a doctor about how to treat and suppress outbreaks before the first symptom.
HSV-1 and HSV-2 are both known to cause genital herpes . It is estimated that, in the United States, 47.8% of people aged 14–49 have HSV-1, while 11.9% of Americans in the same age group have HSV-2 ( WHO, 2017 ). Theoretically, this means that over 195 million people in the United States might have genital herpes. But we know the number must actually be somewhere lower than this. Not every herpes infection actually causes symptoms, and if it does, it isn’t always in the genitals. Herpes can cause a latent infection, meaning the virus can lie dormant in your system without causing any symptoms. Because of this, not everybody who has herpes knows it even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are 776,000 new cases of genital herpes in the US each year ( Satterwhite, 2013 ). And this means our estimations of how many people are infected could be way off.
Herpes is a sexually transmitted infection and can be spread through sexual contact—be it vaginal, anal, or oral. But despite popular belief, herpes isn’t only spread those ways. HSV-1, like many of the other types of herpesvirus, can be transmitted through saliva. Because of this, children, for example, may become infected through contact with the saliva of their parents (e.g., goodnight kisses) or from other kids at daycare by sharing utensils, straws, or toothbrushes.
Both types of herpes are most contagious in the time around an outbreak when the person infected is experiencing a flare-up of symptoms or a prodrome that a flare-up is to come. But this doesn’t mean herpes can’t be transmitted when the person who has it is asymptomatic—it can, it’s just less likely.
First things first: There’s no way to protect yourself from HSV-1 and HSV-2 that’s 100% effective. Limiting sexual contact when someone is having a herpes outbreak is an important first step, which may reduce the risk of transmission. Although there’s currently no cure, daily antiviral medication can be prescribed by a healthcare provider following a herpes diagnosis that helps manage and prevent outbreaks. Currently, herpes infections are treated with antivirals that are prescribed by a healthcare provider, such as acyclovir (brand name Sitavig, Zovirax), valacyclovir (brand name Valtrex; see Important Safety Information ), or famciclovir (brand name Famvir). Using condoms and dental dams can also help reduce the chances of transmission.
Getting yourself and your partner/s screened for herpes can be one way to help prevent the spread of the virus. Herpes isn’t usually part of routine STI screening, so make sure you tell your healthcare provider that you are interested in being checked for herpes as well, which would require a blood test. Keep in mind, however, that blood test results may not be able to accurately detect a recent infection. It’s also important to remember that it is possible to have an active, healthy, and safe sex life if you or a partner has herpes.
Valacyclovir tablets are a prescription antiviral medicine. Valacyclovir tablets lower the ability of herpes viruses to multiply in your body.
Valacyclovir tablets do not cure herpes infections (cold sores, chickenpox, shingles or genital herpes). The efficacy of valacyclovir tablets has not been studied in children who have not reached puberty.
Cold sores are caused by a herpes virus that may be spread by kissing or other physical contact with the infected area of the skin. They are small, painful ulcers that you get in or around your mouth. It is not known if valacyclovir tablets can stop the spread of cold sores to others.
Chickenpox is caused by a herpes virus called Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV). It causes an itchy rash of multiple small, red bumps that look like pimples or insect bites usually appearing first on the abdomen or back and face. It can spread to almost everywhere else on the body and may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms.
Shingles is caused by the same herpes virus that causes chickenpox. It causes small, painful blisters to appear on your skin. Shingles occurs in people who have already had chickenpox. Shingles can be spread to people who have not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine by contact with the infected areas of the skin. It is not known if valacyclovir tablets can stop the spread of shingles to others.
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. It causes small, painful blisters on your genital area. You can spread genital herpes to others, even when you have no symptoms. If you are sexually active, you can still pass herpes to your partner, even if you are taking valacyclovir tablets. Valacyclovir tablets, taken every day as prescribed and used with the following safer sex practices, can lower the chances of passing genital herpes to your partner.
Do not take valacyclovir tablets if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or to acyclovir. The active ingredient is valacyclovir.
Before taking valacyclovir tablets, tell your healthcare provider: About all your medical conditions, including:
Kidney failure and nervous system problems are not common, but can be serious in some patients taking valacyclovir tablets. Nervous system problems include aggressive behavior, unsteady movement, shaky movements, confusion, speech problems, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are really not there), seizures and coma.
Kidney failure and nervous system problems have happened in patients who already have kidney disease and in elderly patients whose kidneys do not work well due to age. Always tell your healthcare provider if you have kidney problems before taking valacyclovir tablets.
Call your doctor right away if you get a nervous system problem while you are taking valacyclovir tablets.
Common side effects of valacyclovir tablets in adults include headache, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and dizziness. Side effects in HIV-infected adults include headache, tiredness and rash. These side effects usually are mild and do not cause patients to stop taking valacyclovir tablets.
Other less common side effects in adults include painful periods in women, joint pain, depression, low blood cell counts and changes in tests that measure how well the liver and kidneys work. The most common side effect seen in children < 18 years of age was headache.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you develop any side effects that concern you. These are not all the side effects of valacyclovir tablets. For more information ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Keep valacyclovir tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children. General information about valacyclovir tablets Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Do not use valacyclovir tablets for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give valacyclovir tablets to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription products to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see the full Prescribing Information for complete safety information.
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Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2).
Genital herpes infection is common in the United States. CDC estimated that there were 572,000 new genital herpes infections in the United States in a single year. 1 Nationwide, 11.9 % of persons aged 14 to 49 years have HSV-2 infection (12.1% when adjusted for age). 2 However, the prevalence of genital herpes infection is higher than that because an increasing number of genital herpes infections are caused by HSV-1. 3 Oral HSV-1 infection is typically acquired in childhood; because the prevalence of oral HSV-1 infection has declined in recent decades, people may have become more susceptible to contracting a genital herpes infection from HSV-1. 4
HSV-2 infection is more common among women than among men; the percentages of those infected during 2015-2016 were 15.9% versus 8.2% respectively, among 14 to 49 year olds. 2 This is possibly because genital infection is more easily transmitted from men to women than from women to men during penile-vaginal sex. 5 HSV-2 infection is more common among non-Hispanic blacks (34.6%) than among non-Hispanic whites (8.1%). 2 A previous analysis found that these disparities, exist even among persons with similar numbers of lifetime sexual partners. Most infected persons may be unaware of their infection; in the United States, an estimated 87.4% of 14 to 49 year olds infected with HSV-2 have never received a clinical diagnosis. 6
The age-adjusted percentage of persons in the United States infected with HSV-2 decreased from 18.0% in 1999–2000 to 12.1% in 2015-2016. 2
Infections are transmitted through contact with HSV in herpes lesions, mucosal surfaces, genital secretions, or oral secretions. 5 HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be shed from normal-appearing oral or genital mucosa or skin. 7 ,8 Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during genital contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. However, receiving oral sex from a person with an oral HSV-1 infection can result in getting a genital HSV-1 infection. 4 Transmission commonly occurs from contact with an infected partner who does not have visible lesions and who may not know that he or she is infected. 7 In persons with asymptomatic HSV-2 infections, genital HSV shedding occurs on 10.2% of days, compared to 20.1% of days among those with symptomatic infections. 8
Most individuals infected with HSV are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms that go unnoticed or are mistaken for another skin condition. 9 When symptoms do occur, herpes lesions typically appear as one or more vesicles, or small blisters, on or around the genitals, rectum or mouth. The average incubation period for an initial herpes infection is 4 days (range, 2 to 12) after exposure. 10 The vesicles break and leave painful ulcers that may take two to four weeks to heal after the initial herpes infection. 5,10 Experiencing these symptoms is referred to as having a first herpes “outbreak” or episode.
Clinical manifestations of genital herpes differ between the first and recurrent (i.e., subsequent) outbreaks. The first outbreak of herpes is often associated with a longer duration of herpetic lesions, increased viral shedding (making HSV transmission more likely) and systemic symptoms including fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, or headache. 5 ,10 Recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes are common, and many patients who recognize recurrences have prodromal symptoms, either localized genital pain, or tingling or shooting pains in the legs, hips or buttocks, which occur hours to days before the eruption of herpetic lesions. 5 Symptoms of recurrent outbreaks are typically shorter in duration and less severe than the first outbreak of genital herpes. 5 Long-term studies have indicated that the number of symptomatic recurrent outbreaks may decrease over time. 5 Recurrences and subclinical shedding are much less frequent for genital HSV-1 infection than for genital HSV-2 infection. 5
Genital herpes may cause painful genital ulcers that can be severe and persistent in persons with suppressed immune systems, such as HIV-infected persons. 5 Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can also cause rare but serious complications such as aseptic meningitis (inflammation of the linings of the brain). 5 Development of extragenital lesions (e.g. buttocks, groin, thigh, finger, or eye) may occur during the course of infection. 5
Some persons who contract genital herpes have concerns about how it will impact their overall health, sex life, and relationships. 5, 11 There can also be considerable embarrassment, shame, and stigma associated with a herpes diagnosis that can substantially interfere with a patient’s relationships. 10 Clinicians can address these concerns by encouraging patients to recognize that while herpes is not curable, it is a manageable condition. 5 Three important steps that providers can take for their newly-diagnosed patients are: giving information, providing support resources, and helping define treatment and prevention opt
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