Herpes zoster in children following malaria.
Herpes zoster is uncommon in normal children in the 0-9 year age group. However, its incidence is markedly increased in those who are immunosuppressed. Six Papua New Guinean children under 9 years of age developed herpes zoster following an episode of malaria, due to Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax which was treated with chloroquine. The reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus in these patients may reflect transient depression of cell-mediated immunity by these malaria parasites, possibly augmented by the chloroquine used in their treatment.
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum; D010966:Plasmodium vivax
D002738:Chloroquine