Incidence and trend of herpes progenitalis. A 15-year population study.

A population-based epidemiologic study of herpes progenitalis was conducted in residents of Rochester, Minnesota, for the 15-year period 1965 through 1979. Three hundred ninety-two patients (129 males, 263 females) were identified. The average annual incidence rate of herpes progenitalis was 50 per 100,000 population. A continuous increase in incidence was demonstrated throughout the study period (P less than 0.0005, trend test). In 1979, the incidence peaked at 128 per 100,000 population. The median age at onset was 24 years, and more than 80% of the patients were 18 to 36 years of age. Females predominated by 1.5:1 (P less than 0.001) and were, on the average, 4 years younger than the male patients. Although 15 pregnancies in the series were affected by herpes progenitalis, no neonatal herpes was noted, nor was the number of unfavorable outcomes of pregnancy unusual. No invasive or in situ genital carcinoma developed in patients after 1,544 person-years of follow-up.