According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are over 500,000 new cases of herpes infection each year. And this figure is projected to increase as the population grows because it correlates to the fact that more and more people are becoming sexually active, which exposes them to the possibility of contracting sexually transmitted disease, in this case, herpes.
But which age group is commonly infected with herpes? Read more as we’ll talk about this topic in today’s article.
So What’s The Real Score?

Statistics show that the prevalence of genital herpes (HSV-1) among individuals aged 14 to 49 is at 47.8%. On the other hand, here are some figures about the prevalence of herpes infection in other age groups:
- 20 to 29 (41.3%)
- 30 to 39 (54.1%)
- 40 to 49 (59.7%)
So based on the numbers above, we can say that the prevalence of herpes infection is greater in the 40 above age group compared to other age groups.
In addition, 45.2% of males and 50.9% of females in the US are infected with one type of herpes or both. As for the prevalence of herpes infection based on ethnicity, it was determined that the highest number of infections belong to Non-Hispanic Americans (58.8%) and Mexican-Americans (71.7%).
How Can A Person Be Infected With Herpes?
Herpes infections are commonly transmitted through skin-to-skin contact with the herpes virus in the areas with lesions. Aside from that you can also be infected once you come into contact with the oral secretions (saliva), genital secretions, and mucosal surfaces of the carrier person.
In general, a person can be infected with herpes when they come into contact with the genitals of the infected person. However, engaging in oral sex with a person who has HSV-1 can also cause the virus to be transmitted to the other person.
Likewise, the transmission usually occurs upon contact with an infected individual who is not aware that they are already infected with this kind of STD. For those individuals with HSV-2 infections who are also asymptomatic, the shedding happens at 10.2% days than those who have symptomatic HSV-2 infection, which is at 20.1% days.
What Are The Possible Complications Of Having Herpes?
Genital herpes or HSV-1 may lead to painful ulcers around the genital area, which can be persistent and severe, especially with those persons who have suppressed immune systems. Aside from that, both types of herpes can cause aseptic meningitis or inflammation in the brain meninges (linings). Moreover, it can also lead to the development of lesions in the groin, buttocks, fingers, thigh, or eyes.
What Are The Concerns Of People Who Are Infected With Herpes?
Some of the most common concerns of those people who have herpes are centered towards their sex life, relationships, and overall health. Apart from that, infected persons tend to have fear in dealing with the shame, embarrassment, and stigma of having an STD like herpes. And this creates an issue with the aspect of doctor-patient relationships since they are now apprehensive to seek treatment out of the fear of being discriminated.
Fortunately, there are ways in which an infected person can seek medical help without having to disclose their identity, and this method is through seeking online STD treatment from a reputable health care provider like CureDose. The way it works is something like this, the patient will visit the website, fill out the application form, give a brief background of the type of STD they’re infected with, and choose the appropriate treatment for curing the disease. The samples can be sent through mail and the result will be sent back in a week or so after the STD test.
Overall, seeking medical is very important, especially if you’re already aware of the infection as clinicians and health care providers can offer the best course of action to address the infection. Yes, herpes is incurable, but seeking medical help will allow patients to get more information about the disease, define the available prevention and treatment options, and provide support resources.