Epidemiologic determinants of herpes genitalis case detection rates among STD clinic attendees.

Background And Objective: to report significant sociodemographic and behavioural outpatient characteristics in Greeks and foreign immigrants associated with the diagnosis of symptomatic herpes genitalis.

Methods: A cross sectional hospital-based study (1990-96).

Results: In the context of an STD reference population (n = 5,831), herpes genitalis (n = 831) represents the second leading sexually transmitted disease (14.2%), more often affecting Greek outpatients. Immigrant women were found five times more infected than Greek. In Greek heterosexuals low partner change rate was the main characteristic at the moment of health seeking behaviour (median: 1 partner in the past six months). Homo/bisexual orientation in males resulted in lower detection rate. Injecting drug use history was not associated with an increased relative incidence.

Conclusions: low risk behaviour in heterosexuals constitutes a background for further preventive interventions to reduce complications.