Browsing by Subject "orolabial herpes"

The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence of clinically apparent orolabial herpes and the rate of recrudescence in the Finnish population. As a secondary aim we evaluate the significance of sociodemographic, health-related and other factors previously associated with the disease. The study sample was collected from the Finnish population register office using simple random sampling. A mailed questionnaire was sent to 3200 adults and 1000 children in 1989-1990. Response rate was excellent. In the adult study sample (15-65 years old) the lifetime prevalence of recurrent herpes labialis is 19.4%. Over 60% of cases have 1-3 relapses per year. Family background and health factors are found to be independent predictive factors for recurrent herpes labialis: mother (OR 3.38; 95% CI 2.35 – 4.86), chapped lips (OR 3.28; 95% CI 2.39 - 4.49). A larger proportion of women than men have the disease (OR 2.17; 95% CI 1.70 – 2.77). In order to develop the management of the disease further studies on the role of factors affecting the clinical manifestation, symptomatic and asymptomatic latency reactivation are needed.