Based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2015–2016, the seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 was 47.8% and 11.9%, respectively. Prevalence increased with age for both types. Antibodies to HSV-1 start in childhood and correlate with socioeconomic status, race, and cultural group. By age 30 years, 50% of patients with a high socioeconomic status and 80% in a lower socioeconomic status are seropositive. Starting at puberty, antibodies to HSV-2 emerge, correlating with degree of sexual activity. By the fifth decade of life, more than 90% of adults have antibodies to HSV-1.
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Cite this: Michael Stuart Bronze. Fast Five Quiz: Herpes Simplex Virus - Medscape - Sep 06, 2022.
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