Herpes Zoster in Children and Adolescents: A 10-year Retrospective Study at a Single Institution.
- Author:
Jun Gyu SONG
1
;
Moo Kyu SUH
;
Gyoung Yim HA
;
Heesoo KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Children;
Adolescents;
Herpes zoster
- MeSH:
Adolescent*;
Age Distribution;
Asthma;
Bacterial Infections;
Child*;
Dermatitis, Atopic;
Epilepsy;
Female;
Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus;
Herpes Zoster Oticus;
Herpes Zoster*;
Humans;
Immunosuppression;
Incidence;
Korea;
Male;
Meningitis;
Neuralgia, Postherpetic;
Pruritus;
Retrospective Studies*;
Rhinitis, Allergic;
Seasons;
Sinusitis
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2016;54(8):628-633
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Studies on herpes zoster have been extensively reported in Korea. However, few reports have dealt with herpes zoster in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological features and clinical characteristics of herpes zoster in children and adolescents. METHODS: During a 10-year period (2005~2014), 95 herpes zoster patients, aged 18 years and younger, were evaluated in regard to the annual, monthly, and seasonal incidences; the age distribution; and the gender ratio. The children and adolescents with herpes zoster were further assessed on the accompanying symptoms, dermatomal distribution, associated diseases, treatments, and complications. RESULTS: Among all the patients with herpes zoster, 2.41% were children and adolescents. The highest incidence was in summer (35.8%). The age group of 10 to 14 years had the highest incidence (40.0%). The male to female ratio was 1.4:1. The common accompanying symptoms were pain (77.9%) and pruritus (22.1%). The most common dermatomal distribution was the thoracic dermatome (50.5%), followed by the cervical (21.1%), the trigeminal (16.8%), the lumbar (7.4%) and the sacral (4.2%) dermatomes. Associated diseases including atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and epilepsy were observed in 23.2%. There was no case with immunosuppression. The most common complication was secondary bacterial infection (5.2%), followed by herpes zoster ophthalmicus or herpes zoster generalisatus (4.2%), Ramsay Hunt syndrome (2.1%), meningitis and recurrent herpes zoster (1.1%). No patient developed postherpetic neuralgia. CONCLUSION: Herpes zoster is rare and relatively mild in healthy immunocompetent children and adolescents. Pruritus was observed in some pediatric patients, but there was no occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia.
