title: Herpes zoster in childhood.
abstract: Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus that resides in a dorsal root ganglion. Herpes zoster can develop any time after a primary infection. Because varicella vaccine is a live attenuated virus, herpes zoster can develop in a vaccine recipient. The incidence of herpes zoster among vaccine recipients is about 14 cases per 100,000 person-years. In young children, herpes zoster has a predilection for areas supplied by the cervical and sacral dermatomes. The most common complications are secondary bacterial infection, depigmentation, and scarring. Although the diagnosis of herpes zoster is based on a distinct clinical appearance, viral DNA analysis of the lesion by polymerase chain reaction or restriction fragment length polymorphism is necessary to differentiate wild from vaccine-type viruses. Acyclovir is the treatment of choice for herpes zoster.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexander K C
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: W Lane M
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Robson
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Leong
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012307:Risk Factors; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods; D014611:Vaccination; D014775:Virus Activation
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D000212:Acyclovir