Herpes zoster in children: A prospective study

Abstract

Background Herpes zoster is a painful dermatomal vesicular skin eruption brought on by latent varicella virus. One million case are reported in the United States each year. Zoster is not common in childhood and young adult life. Over the age of 50, the incidence rise and continues to rise in successive decades of life so, the incidence is around 11 cases per one thousand patient‐year at 80 years. The most frequent consequence of zoster in those fifty years of age and over is postherpetic neuralgia, it is usually defined as having ongoing pain for at least ninety days after the zoster rash goes away.   Objective Study designed to analyze clinicoepidemiological data for herpes zoster in the pediatric population in order to reduce long-term complications.   Methods A prospective study from June 2020 to June 2022 was carried out in primary health hospital in Baghdad city. The research covered all clinically confirmed cases of zoster in children up to age of 12 years.   Results Over the duration of two-year a total of 50 child between the age of 1-12 years were diagnosed to have herpes zoster. Out of 50 patients, 29 (58%) were girls and 21(42%) were boys. Of these 27 (54%) were in age group of 1-6years and 23(46%) were in age group of 6-12years. Three years old was the youngest patient while 10 years old was the oldest. Number of cases with history of previous chickenpox was 40 (80%) the remaining 10 (20%) did not have history of chickenpox. All patients (100%) were not vaccinated because vaccine not available in Iraq. All cases (100%) was negative for HIV. Involvement of thoracic dermatome was seen in 45 (90%) of patients, upper limbs in 3 cases (6%) and lower limbs 2 case (4%).Over the course of the follow up period, post herpetic neuralgia not observed in any child.   Conclusion Early childhood varicella exposure increases risk of developing herpes zoster in children. Herpes zoster in children not always be a sign of an underlying immunological disease or malignancy. In general the course of zoster in children is milder and resolve without complications.