Incidence of recurrent herpes labialis and upper respiratory infection: a prospective study of the influence of biologic, social and psychologic predictors.
In a 3-year prospective study of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL) in a population of 149 student nurses, 40 to 50 per cent of the variance in incidence could be explained by a small group of variables. Measures of previous experience with RHL accounted for the largest fraction of the explained variance, followed by upper respiratory infection (URI) rate, socioeconomic status, and mood trait, in order of declining influence. Timing of RHL episodes was not related to phase of the menstrual cycle.