Thread: Health Alert
View Single Post
Old 06-24-2008, 02:50 PM   #3
CitoMaramba
 
CitoMaramba's Avatar
Dojo: Dangayan Singkaw Aikido Shinzui Group Philippines
Location: Plymouth, UK
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 492
Philippines
Offline
Re: Health Alert

Thanks for the warning. A search of the CDC website turns up the following report in the Mortalitly Morbidity Weekly Report (MMWR) dated February 09, 1990 [39(5);69-71]
Quote:
Epidemiologic Notes and Reports Herpes Gladiatorum at a High School Wrestling Camp -- Minnesota

In July 1989, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) investigated an outbreak of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) dermatitis (herpes gladiatorum) in participants at a Minnesota wrestling camp. The camp was held July 2 through July 28 and attended by 175 male high school wrestlers from throughout the United States. The participants were divided into three wrestling groups according to weight (group 1, lightest; group 3, heaviest). During most practice sessions, wrestlers had contact only with others in the same group. The outbreak was detected during the final week of camp, and wrestling contact was subsequently discontinued for the final 2 days.
...Editorial Note

Editorial Note: Herpes gladiatorum (cutaneous infection with HSV in wrestlers and rugby players) was first described in the mid-1960s (1-3). In 1988, an outbreak of herpes gladiatorum was reported among three Wisconsin high school wrestling teams (4). In a national survey of 1477 trainers of athletes, approximately 3% of high school wrestlers were reported to have developed HSV skin infections during the 1984-85 season (5). Lesions occur most often on the head and neck. Primary infection may cause constitutional symptoms with fever, malaise, weight loss, and regional lymphadenopathy. Ocular involvement includes keratitis, conjunctivitis, and blepharitis.

Transmission occurs primarily through skin-to-skin contact. Autoinoculation may lead to involvement of multiple sites. Previous infection with HSV-1 may reduce the risk of acquiring herpes gladiatorum (5). However, the prevalence of antibody to HSV-1 is low among white adolescents (6), and many adolescents are susceptible when they enter competitive wrestling. Control methods should include education of athletes and trainers regarding herpes gladiatorum, routine skin examinations before wrestling contact, and exclusion of wrestlers with suspicious skin lesions. The outbreak in the Minnesota camp might have been prevented if athletes with such lesions had been promptly excluded from contact competition.
Not exactly a new critter, but still one that we need to be aware of. Stay healthy!

Inocencio Maramba, MD, MSc
Dangayan Singkaw Aikido Shinzui
  Reply With Quote