Tropical Medicine & Surgery

Abstract

Sero-Prevalence of Herpes Virus Infection in Sudanese Pregnant Women

Eisa Osman El-Amin, Osman Eisa Elamin, Rawia Abdul-Monim Ahmed, Abdulrahman Khalid Abdulla, Sara Eisa Elamin and Harun Ibrahim Elhaj

Objectives: The aim of the study was to know the sero-plevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infection in pregnant women attending a university hospital in Sudan. Methods: All pregnant women who came for delivery by lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) in National ribat teaching hospital between May and November 2011 were enrolled in this study. Their blood was tested for HSV IgG & IgM immunoglobulin. Their vulvas were examined for eruptions and ulcers and when those were found surface swabs were taken for isolation of organisms including syphilis. Their blood was also tested for HIV and syphilis. Results: One hundred thirty pregnant women were included in the study and forty five women (34.6%) tested positive for the IgG of Herpes virus but none of them was positive for the IgM test. Fourteen women had genital rashes/ulcers and nine of them tested positive for IgG but not IgM. Eleven women had lip ulcers or blisters and five of them tested positive for herpes. Conclusion: Acute infection during pregnancy was not documented in this study population and probably women develop immunity to herpes virus early in their reproductive life. Genital rashes and ulcers were not associated with active herpes infection.