Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus that resides in a dorsal root ganglion. Herpes zoster can develop any time after a primary infection. Because varicella vaccine is a live attenuated virus, herpes zoster can develop in a vaccine recipient. The incidence of herpes zoster among vaccine recipients is about 14 cases per 100,000 person-years. In young children,...

Background Systemic inflammation and dysregulated immune function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is hypothesized to predispose patients to development of herpes zoster. However, the risk of herpes zoster among patients with COPD is undocumented. We therefore aimed to investigate the risk of herpes zoster among patients with COPD. Methods We conducted a cohort study using data f...

This topic will review the pathogenesis, epidemiology, risk factors for, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of VZV vasculopathy. The major clinical manifestations and complications of chickenpox and herpes zoster are discussed separately. (See "Epidemiology of varicella-zoster virus infection: Chickenpox" and "Treatment of varicella-zoster virus infection: Chickenpox" and "Vaccination ...

TOPIC The role of the zoster vaccine in the prevention of herpes zoster and its sequelae, including postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and herpes zoster ophthalmicus. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Wide administration of the herpes zoster vaccine in accordance with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will lead to a decline in...

The Varicella Zoster virus persists in sensory nerve ganglion cells after chicken pox and gets reactivated to cause herpes zoster after variable periods of time as a result of waning of specific cellular immunity. Susceptible contacts of herpes zoster can develop chicken pox and very rarely herpes zoster. We report an interesting case of a father and his son who developed herpes zoster simultan...

Herpes zoster is uncommon in immunocompetent children. The bilateral symmetrical occurrence of herpes zoster lesions is extremely rare. We report a 15-year-old immunocompetent Chinese adolescent boy who developed bilateral symmetrical herpes zoster lesions. To our knowledge, the occurrence of bilateral symmetrical herpes zoster lesions in an immunocompetent individual has not been reported in t...

BACKGROUND Whether the risk of cancer is increased among patients with herpes zoster is unclear. We investigated the risk of cancer among patients with herpes zoster using a nationwide health registry in Taiwan. METHODS We identified 35 871 patients with newly diagnosed herpes zoster during 2000-2008 from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. We analyzed the standardized ...

The pathogenesis of herpes zoster is closely linked to reduced varicella-zoster virus-specific cell-mediated immunity. However, little is known about the interplay between natural killer cells and psychological stress in the pathogenesis of herpes zoster. This study aimed to investigate possible associations among natural killer cells, T cells and psychological stress in herpes zoster. Interfer...

BACKGROUND The incidence and severity of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia increase with age in association with a progressive decline in cell-mediated immunity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV). We tested the hypothesis that vaccination against VZV would decrease the incidence, severity, or both of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia among older adults. METHODS We enrolled 38,546 a...

Herpes zoster (shingles), a painful and disabling disease, affects an estimated 1 million individuals in the United States annually and results in significant morbidity, lost productivity, and diminished quality of life. Herpes zoster constitutes the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. After resolution of chickenpox, VZV remains dormant in dorsal...