BACKGROUND A thorough epidemiological surveillance and a good understanding of the burden of diseases associated to VZV are crucial to asses any potential impact of a prevention strategy. A population-based retrospective epidemiological study to estimate the burden of herpes zoster requiring hospitalization in Spain was conducted. METHODS This study was conducted by using data from the nation...

BACKGROUND Herpes zoster infection and stroke are highly prevalent in the general population; however, reports have presented inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between herpes zoster infection and stroke. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to clarify this association. MATERIAL AND METHODS The PubMed and Embase databases were searched for studies published from their inception to Ja...

INTRODUCTION Herpes zoster and its sequelae can have a serious impact on quality of life, particularly in the elderly. The duration and severity of herpes zoster symptoms can be reduced with antiviral treatment. Early treatment is most effective. AIM To identify how soon after onset of herpes zoster symptoms adults presented to a suburban Dunedin general practice and to describe which patient...

CLE: cutaneous lupus erythematosus HZ: herpes zoster SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus TLE: tumid lupus erythematosus VZV: varicella zoster virus INTRODUCTION Topical corticosteroids are commonly used in the treatment of a wide range of skin manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patients with SLE are also known to have an increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ). Here we present a r...

Herpes zoster is an infectious disease caused by varicella-zoster virus that may occur sporadically at any age. We report on two patients with herpes zoster who received chemotherapy for breast cancer. Both patients were immunocompromised and received filgrastim therapy for the management of neutropenia. Zoster occurred during filgrastim therapy but the symptoms were alleviated rapidly in the c...

This review of the data from the Shingles Prevention Study (SPS) highlights the efficacy and safety of a high-titer live attenuated herpes zoster virus vaccine in preventing herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in adults aged 60 years or older. In the SPS, the vaccine reduced the burden of illness due to herpes zoster disease by 61.1% and the incidence of its most common and debilitat...

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a ubiquitous human alphaherpesvirus that causes varicella (chicken pox) and herpes zoster (shingles). Varicella is a common childhood illness, characterized by fever, viremia, and scattered vesicular lesions of the skin. As is characteristic of the alphaherpesviruses, VZV establishes latency in cells of the dorsal root ganglia. Herpes zoster, caused by VZV reacti...

Evidence-based strategies for the management of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) include the use of antiviral agents in acute zoster and specific analgesics in PHN. Antiviral agents are effective in reducing the severity and duration of acute herpes zoster when given within 72 hours of rash onset, but they do not prevent PHN. Anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, an...

Varicella results from a primary infection with the varicella virus while herpes zoster is caused by a reactivation of a latent infection. Dissemination of herpes zoster is uncommon in immunocompetent individuals. Reports of disseminated herpes zoster in children are even less common than in adults. An unusual case of disseminated herpes zoster ophthalmicus in an 8-year old immunocompetent blac...

BACKGROUND In 2013, a herpes zoster vaccination programme was introduced in England for adults aged 70 years with a phased catch-up programme for those aged 71-79 years. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the first 3 years of the vaccination programme on incidence of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in this population. METHODS In this population-based study, we extracted data from the...