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Sex Transm Infect 2009;85:416-419 doi:10.1136/sti.2008.033902
  • Epidemiology

Increasing role of herpes simplex virus type 1 in first-episode anogenital herpes in heterosexual women and younger men who have sex with men, 1992–2006

  1. N Ryder1,2,
  2. F Jin2,3,
  3. A M McNulty1,2,
  4. A E Grulich2,3,
  5. B Donovan1,3
  1. 1
    Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  2. 2
    School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  3. 3
    National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr N Ryder, Sydney Sexual Health Centre, GPO Box 1614, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia; nathan.ryder{at}sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
  • Accepted 20 February 2009
  • Published Online First 8 March 2009

Abstract

Objectives: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 is causing an increasing proportion of anogenital herpes; however, it is unclear which populations are affected. We describe the contribution of HSV-1 to first-episode anogenital herpes and its associations.

Methods: For all cases of first-episode anogenital herpes diagnosed at the Sydney Sexual Health Centre from 1992 to 2006, medical record review was used to confirm the type and anatomical site. Age, sex, HIV status and sexual behaviour data were extracted from the clinic database.

Results: Overall, among 1845 confirmed cases of first-episode anogenital herpes the proportion attributable to HSV-1 increased from 29% to 42% (odds ratio (OR) per 3-year band 1.19; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.27). When stratified by gender of sexual partners the proportion of first-episode anogenital herpes due to HSV-1 increased over time, but only achieved significance in heterosexual women (p<0.01). Among men who have sex with men (MSM), HSV-1 only increased for those less than 28 years of age, 17% in 1992–4 to 76% in 2004–6 (OR per 3-year band 1.58; 95% CI 1.14 to 2.19). The proportion attributable to HSV-1 was higher for anal than genital herpes and MSM were much more likely to have anal disease.

Conclusions: The proportion of first-episode anogenital herpes due to HSV-1 significantly increased among younger MSM and heterosexual women over the 15-year period. In some clinical populations, such as young MSM and women or patients with anal disease, HSV-1 may now account for the majority of first-episode anogenital herpes.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

  • Ethics approval Ethics approval was granted by the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee.

  • Contributors AG and FJ conceived the original idea for the study. NR, AM and BD designed the study. NR collected the data and performed the data analysis, with the assistance of FJ. NR and BD drafted the manuscript and all authors contributed to manuscript revisions.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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