Herpes zoster in children.
BACKGROUND
The clinical studies of series of children with herpes zoster (HZ) are rather limited.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epidemiologic conditions, clinical manifestations, therapy, and outcome of HZ in children.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients with HZ have been studied. Five patients who had herpes simplex virus infection were excluded. The laboratory diagnosis was made by fluorescent techniques. Acyclovir was administered systematically for 2 more days after no new lesions had developed.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients (group A) were immunocompromised; eight patients (group B) were otherwise healthy. Two patients from group B had intrauterine varicella; the other six patients had had varicella under the age of 4 years. Three patients were recently exposed to varicella. The duration of HZ was significantly longer in group A than in group B, but the outcome was good in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Herpes simplex virus infection may simulate the pattern of HZ; varicella in early childhood is a risk factor for HZ in otherwise healthy children; exposure of a child to varicella may cause reactivation of latent HZ virus; and acyclovir therapy within 3 days of exanthem onset prevents significant morbidity and death in immunocompromised children with HZ.
First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University, Greece.
T
T
Kakourou
M
M
Theodoridou
G
G
Mostrou
V
V
Syriopoulou
H
H
Papadogeorgaki
A
A
Constantopoulos
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir