Antibodies against Herpes simplex virus type 2 among pregnant women in Norway
Eskild, A.; Jeansson, S.; Jenum, P.A.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 119(16): 2323-2326
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 10414195 Document Number: 506338
The prevalence of antibodies against herpes simplex virus type 2 (anti-HSV-2) among pregnant women in Norway is not known. To study the prevalence of anti-HSV-2, a random sample of 961 women was drawn from a study population of 35,940 pregnant women in Norway during 1992-94. 27 % (256/961) had anti-HSV-2. The prevalence increased with age. 17 % of the 20-24-year-olds and 34 % of the 35 year-old or older had anti-HSV-2. The presence of antibodies also varied geographically, from 18 % in the south to 39 % in the north of Norway. Among women with repeated anti-HSV-2 tests during pregnancy, 2.6 % of the seronegative women seroconverted (16/623). HSV-2 infection is common among pregnant women in Norway. The public health implications of this infection need to be clarified.