From the Guidelines
Approximately 67% of the global population under age 50, or around 3.7 billion people, have oral herpes, primarily caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This prevalence is based on the most recent and highest quality studies available, including a study published in the Journal of Clinical Virology in 2012 1.
Key Points
- Oral herpes is a common condition worldwide, with a high prevalence in both developed and developing countries.
- The primary cause of oral herpes is HSV-1, which can be acquired through non-sexual contact, often during childhood.
- Many infected individuals never develop symptoms, while others experience periodic outbreaks triggered by factors like stress, illness, sun exposure, or hormonal changes.
- Antiviral medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir can help manage symptoms and reduce outbreak duration.
- For frequent recurrences, daily suppressive therapy may be recommended to reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks. Some key factors that influence the prevalence of oral herpes include:
- Socioeconomic status: Higher socioeconomic status is associated with a lower prevalence of HSV-1.
- Age: Older age (65-74 years) is associated with a higher prevalence of oral herpes.
- Gender: Female gender is associated with a higher prevalence of oral herpes.
- Race/ethnicity: White race/ethnicity is associated with a higher prevalence of oral herpes.
- Lifestyle factors: Frequent upper respiratory infections and low lymphocyte counts are associated with a higher risk of oral herpes. The aim of antiviral therapy is to block viral replication, shorten the duration of symptoms, and accelerate the resolution of lesions, with treatment initiated as soon as possible to ensure an optimal therapeutic beneficial effect.
From the Research
Prevalence of Oral Herpes
- There are no direct statistics provided in the given studies regarding the number of people with oral herpes.
- The studies primarily focus on the treatment and pharmacology of antiviral agents for herpes simplex virus infections and herpes zoster, rather than the prevalence of oral herpes 2, 3, 4.
- Study 5 discusses influenza, which is unrelated to oral herpes.
- Study 6 examines the effects of ezetimibe added to statin therapy after acute coronary syndromes, which is also unrelated to oral herpes.
- Therefore, there is no relevant data in the provided studies to determine the number of people with oral herpes 2, 3, 4.