Levels of the herpes simplex antibody in older women are linked with frailty and mortality, a study said. The study was published online in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
The study involved 633 community-dwelling older women who were from ages 70-79, according to Doctor's Lounge. The women's baseline serum antibody levels against four types of herpes viruses, namely herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2), varicella-zoster virus, and Epstein-Barr virus were observed.
Their three-year incident frailty and five-year mortality were also examined. "There was a correlation for incremental increases in HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibody levels with increased risks of incident frailty and mortality," according to Medical Xpress.
#Herpessimplexvirus linked to frailty, #mortality https://t.co/Jv2aiXDxJL
— Medical Xpress (@physorg_health) May 4, 2016
Herpes-Positive Women Have Increased Frailty and Mortality Risk
Three-year incident frailty was higher for women seropositive for HSV-1 and HSV-2. Five-year mortality was also higher for those seropositive for HSV-1 and HSV-2.
HSV-1 and HSV-2 cause orolabial and genital herpes, according to the introduction of the study that can be found in Online Library. While HSV-1 is said to be mostly acquired during childhood without sexual contact, HSV-2 is a sexually transmitted disease.
Herpes Evades Host And Continues Growth
Herpesviruses are "prevalent pathogens that establish lifelong latent and persistent infections in immunocompetent humans after an asymptomatic or self-limited primary infection," according to the study. They are also said to evade their hosts' immune responses while remaining capable of reactivation and propagation.
For genital herpes, the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) said that the common symptoms are sores, vesicles, or ulcers which may be called lesions. Others symptoms are flu-like, such as fever and swollen lymph nodes, headache and painful urination. ASHA said that herpes lesions may be mistaken for insect bites, abrasions or yeast infections.
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