A TWO-STAGE RETROSPECTIVE-PROSPECTIVE DESIGN AS A METHODOLOGICAL BASIS FOR STUDYING RECURRENT HERPES SIMPLEX INFECTION
Keywords:
To substantiate a study design that allows the epidemiological, clinical, immunological and molecular genetic characteristics of RHSI to be examined within a single cohort.Abstract
Recurrent herpes simplex infection (RHSI) requires simultaneous
investigation at two levels. Territorial spread, seasonal dynamics and the spectrum of
provoking factors are established by epidemiological methods, whereas the
immunological and hereditary basis of a recurring course is revealed only through
clinical, laboratory and molecular genetic examination. Study designs that address just
one of these levels yield fragmentary results and do not permit population-level and
individual-level data to be linked.
References
The two-stage retrospective-prospective design allows population
level and individual-level characteristics of RHSI to be studied within one cohort. The
retrospective stage ensures sample representativeness and establishes regional baseline
indicators, while the prospective stage provides a comprehensive assessment of the
recurring course. This approach may be recommended for regional studies of chronic
recurring infections.
