Changing patterns of genital herpes simplex virus infections.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 is considered by many venereologists as the predominant serotype among those patients suffering from genital herpes. However, identification of genital isolates obtained from 16 through 20, and 31 through 40 year old individuals among our female patient population shows a predominance of HSV-1 infections. These data suggest that the "above the waist"-"below the waist" epidemiologic patterns commonly ascribed to reflect a prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections respectively, may no longer be appropriate in certain patient populations.