07 Mar Unvaccinated Children Have Higher Risk Of Developing Shingles
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Su-Ying Wen, MD
Chief of Department of Dermatology,
Taipei City Hospital, Renai Branch, Taipei City, Taiwan
Department of Dermatology, Taipei City Hospital, Renai Branch, Taipei City, Taiwan
Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Su-Ying Wen: Though herpes zoster is seen as a disease of the elderly, it can affect individuals in any age group including children. There are limited population-based data regarding pediatric herpes zoster.
We reported a higher incidence rate of pediatric herpes zoster than in previous studies. The higher incidence observed in this population-based study might be because it was measured in a cohort of children who were all infected with varicella rather than as other reports including individuals free of varicella infection in the denominator. Children younger than 2 years at the diagnosis of varicella had a significantly higher risk and shorter duration of developing herpes zoster.
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Su-Ying Wen: The children with a history of varicella had a significantly higher risk of developing pediatric herpes zoster than those who received varicella vaccine. Children contracting varicella before the age of 2 years had at least 2-fold increased the risk of developing pediatric herpes zoster than those contracting varicella after the age of 2 years.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study
Dr. Su-Ying Wen: The results of the current study may serve as baseline data for the early effects of varicella vaccinations on pediatric herpes zoster. Long term studies are required to monitor the impact of a varicella vaccination program on pediatric herpes zoster.
Citation:
Epidemiology of Pediatric Herpes Zoster After Varicella Infection: A Population-Based Study
Pediatrics peds.2013-4037; published ahead of print February 23, 2015, doi:10.1542/peds.2013-4037
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:, Su-Ying Wen, MD, Chief of Department of Dermatology,, Taipei City Hospital, Renai Branch, Taipei City, Taiwan, & Department of Dermatology, Taipei City Hospital (2015). Unvaccinated Children Have Higher Risk Of Developing Shingles MedicalResearch.com
Last Updated on March 7, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD