Is this true? Help!

[andy_anonymous]

Hi

I am very stressed about oral herpes lately. Is it true that 80-90% of Americans become infected with HSV-1 by the time they are 50? This is very comforting to me because it makes me feel getting HSV-1 is inevitable and ultimately not a big deal.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/oral_health/mouth_infections_85,P00888/

Thank you...

[Fleetwood20]

There often isn't data for older age groups with the studies accepting only up to age 55 or 60.

It varies a lot by country and is generationally changing such that today's 30 year olds will have a lower incidence at age 65 than the current cohort.

I think its a safe assumption that over half the population alive today will become infected before they die, excluding a vaccine being released.

[andy_anonymous]

Yes but that is for all age groups. I was wondering if there were data for people in the age group older than 50? Have you run it this quote I have put a link to?

[Fleetwood20]

It is more like 60% or so, but yes it is that high a proportion of people that will be infected and for most it is no issue at all.

You may already be infected from your youth and not know it.