title: Zoster duplex: a clinical report and etiologic analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Herpes zoster (HZ) duplex is a rare disease presentation. The mechanisms of varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation in multiple dermal regions are unknown. To present a HZ duplex case occurring in an immunocompetent woman and to analyze the possible underlying causes of HZ duplex.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a HZ duplex case in an immunocompetent woman and analyzed the possible contributing factors in 36 HZ duplex cases. Continuously distributed variables were categorized by numbers and percentages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study, 24 cases (66.7%) were from Asia, 16 cases (44.4%) were in individuals ≥ 50 years of age, and 17 cases (47.2%) occurred in immunocompromised patients. Of the 36 cases, 23 involved women (63.9%) and 13 involved men. Eighteen patients suffering from HZ duplex, 13 of which were women (72.2%), did not suffer from any chronic systemic disease or have a long history of taking drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HZ duplex is a rare event that can occur in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed individuals. HZ duplex might be associated with the Asia region, advanced age, immunosuppression, and being female.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University Harbin 150001, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University Harbin 150001, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
keywords: Herpes zoster duplex; clinical report; etiology analysis