Background: Temporal increases in the incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) have been reported but studies have examined short study periods, and the cause of the increase remains unknown. We examined the long-term trend of HZ.
Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted in Olmsted County, Minnesota, using data from 1945-1960 and 1980-2007. Medical records review of possible cases was performed to confirm incident cases of HZ, the patient's immune status, and prescribing of antivirals for HZ. We examined the relative change in the temporal trend in the incidence rates before and after the introduction of the varicella vaccination program.
Results: Of the 8017 patients with HZ, 58.7% were females and 6.6% were immunocompromised. The age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate of HZ increased from 0.76 per 1000 person-years (PY) (95% confidence interval [CI], .63-.89) in 1945-1949 to 3.15 per 1000 PY (95% CI, 3.04-3.26) in 2000-2007. The rate of increase across the time period was 2.5% per year after adjusting for age and sex (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.025 [95% CI, 1.023-1.026]; P < .001). The incidence of HZ significantly increased among all age groups and both sexes. We found no change in the rate of increase before vs after the introduction of the varicella vaccination program.
Conclusions: The incidence of HZ has increased >4-fold over the last 6 decades. This increase is unlikely to be due to the introduction of varicella vaccination, antiviral therapy, or change in the prevalence of immunocompromised individuals.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciw296 | DOI Listing |
J Med Virol
January 2025
Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian, Jiangsu, China.
Varicella, a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), remains prevalent in China despite the introduction of the varicella vaccine in 1997. The current vaccination protocol in China involves a voluntary, self-funded single-dose regimen. This study aims to investigate the longevity of immune response in Chinese children following two-dose varicella vaccination administered at different intervals, with the objective of optimizing vaccination strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGerms
September 2024
MD, PhD, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
Introduction: Central nervous system (CNS) infection due to the varicella zoster virus (VZV) can complicate the primary infection or the reactivation, leading to significant mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to describe the clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of patients with confirmed VZV CNS infection in a tertiary hospital in Greece.
Methods: Data about patients hospitalized from January 2018 to September 2023 with CNS infection by VZV, confirmed by a syndromic polymerase chain reaction in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), were retrospectively collected and evaluated.
Cureus
December 2024
Division of Hematology and Cellular Therapy, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, USA.
Introduction: Reactivation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a potential complication following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). Since different doses and durations of acyclovir prophylaxis may be utilized across transplant centers, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a lower dose of acyclovir in preventing HSV and VZV reactivation in alloSCT recipients within our institution.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients who underwent alloSCT between April 2016 and May 2023.
Vaccines (Basel)
December 2024
School of Public Health, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-826 Warsaw, Poland.
Objectives: Herpes zoster (HZ), caused by varicella zoster virus reactivation, affects a significant portion of the population, leading to substantial morbidity. Vaccination is highly effective in preventing HZ, yet awareness and uptake remain low. This study assessed awareness and willingness to vaccinate against HZ in Poland following the introduction of a reimbursement policy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPraxis (Bern 1994)
December 2024
Medicine University Affairs, Cantonal Hospital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland,
In Switzerland, additional vaccinations against influenza, COVID-19, Streptococcus pneumoniae and varicella zoster virus (VZV), are recommended for patients with chronic lung diseases such as COPD, asthma or interstitial lung disease, since infectious diseases often lead to exacerbation of lung diseases resulting in increased disease burden and mortality. In this review we give an overview on recommended vaccinations for patients with chronic lung diseases, also including vaccinations against pertussis and RSV, which are recommended in international guidelines. While continuous development of vaccines against S.
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