[Herpes zoster-associated morbidity in children undergoing chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia].
BACKGROUND
Herpes zoster rarely occurs in healthy children, but may occur frequently and may take a complicated course in children receiving chemotherapy. We aimed to assess morbidity from herpes zoster in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).


METHODS
Reviewing records, treatment and course of zoster eruptions were registered in a cohort of 67 children with newly diagnosed ALL. Of these, 45 had had varicella at the time of diagnosis and 15 contracted varicella or were vaccinated during the course of therapy.


RESULTS
Eleven children had a total of 17 eruptions while receiving chemotherapy. All eruptions were treated with acyclovir, in eight cases intravenously, and in six cases chemotherapy was interrupted. Cutaneous dissemination occurred in two cases, visceral dissemination in none. One child had postherpetic trigeminal neuralgia for two months. The eruption rate was higher among small children than among school-aged children (0.22 vs. 0.13 per year of chemotherapy) and was related to the intensity of chemotherapy (0.30 per year of consolidation treatment vs. 0.13 for maintenance therapy). Three children on prolonged intensive chemotherapy had recurrent zoster episodes.


CONCLUSIONS
Chemotherapy causes zoster eruptions in approximately one quarter of children with ALL, and with intensive protocols recurrent zoster can cause significant morbidity. Attempts to improve immunity by vaccine boosting after attaining remission seems warranted.
Sørensen
Gitte Vrelits
GV
Arhus Universitetshospital, Aalborg Sygehus, Arhus C, Denmark. gittevs@hotmail.com
Helgestad
Jon
J
Rosthøj
Steen
S
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007223:Infant; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir