Genital herpes in Jamaica: a clinical and pathological study 1982-1984

Five hundred and four patients with suspected genital simplex virus (HSV) infection were investigated in Jamica between 1982 and 1984. Of these, 100 (1908%) were virologically confirmed. There were 12 patients with primary/first episode, 45 recurrente and 6 "provoked" type of genital herpes simplex virus infections. Genital herpes in women was more severe than in men. Eighty-eight per cent of genital herpes was confirmed by virus isolation. Forty HSF isolates were identified as HSV type 2. There was seroresponse in 75% primary, 18% recurrent and 17% provoked type of genital herpes. Virus isolation is the most sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus infection. The measuremem of serum anti herpes simplex complement-fixing antibodies was not useful in the diagnosis of suspected patients with genital ulcers and their contacts. The infectiousness of the virus, clinical manifestations, complications such as neonatal herpes infections, psychosocial problems and methods of prevention are issues that clinicians should discuss with patients with genital herpes

Risk factors for carninoma of the uterine cervix in jamaican women

Risk factors of cervical cancer include early age at coitus, multipli sexual partners and antibodies to herpes simplex virus, type 2(HSV-2). To examine the interrelationships of these risk factors, a comparison was made between 78 histologically confirmed cancer cases (stages 0-IV) and 151 control women in Jamica. The rank of order of the percentages of control women with low socieconomic status, first coitus before 20 years of age, first pregnancy before 20 years of age and more than two sexual partners were: 77,97,65, and 76 respectively. The percentage of women with cancer who had coitus before 20 years of age (77) and 2 or more partners (55) were lower than that of controls. A third factors associated with cervical cancer is the presence of HSV-2 antibodies. The age-specific prevalence of HSV-2 antibodies varied from 7% to 32% in women aged 21-69 years. An increase in prevalence of HSV-2 antibodies was observed with increasin age. The age-adjusted prevalence was 11 per cent. The age-specific occurrence of HSV-2 antibodies in cancer cases varied from 6% to 28% with a prevalence of 7.8%. The mean antibody titres in cancer cases were not statistically significant as compared with matched controls (p > 0.01). the data suggest that infection with HSV-2 is a covariable of veneral factors, and the role of the virus in the genesis of some cases of cervical cancer in Jamaican women may not be excluded