Descriptive study of herpes zoster in patients referred to the infectious and tropical diseases clinic of Yazd between 1999-2004

ABSTRACT

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, results from the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus [VZV] within the peripheral nerves and their relevent dermatomes, usually decades after recovery from chickenpox, the primary infection with VZV. In this cross-sectional study all patients with herpes zoster disease referred to the infectious and tropical diseases clinic of Yazd in a 6-year-period between 1999 and 2004 were reviewed. One hundred nine patients were reviewed. The disease was most prevalent in patients from 61 to 70 years of age [28.4%], and 52.23% of them were male. The most commonly involved regions were thoracic [49%], followed by cervical [25.0%], lumbosacral [21%] and trigeminal [12%] dermatomes. Herpes zoster was most frequently observed in summer and the lowest frequency was in spring. Bilateral involvement was observed in 3% of cases. The results of current study is similar to other Iranian and foreign studies. The disease was more frequently observed in the elderly people. It affects both genders and both sides of the body with similar frequency. The most commonly involved dermatome was thoracic