Herpes Zoster in Children with Underlying Comorbidities: Evaluation of the 10-Year Retrospective Single Center Experience

Abstract

Aim: It was aimed to evaluate the complications and prognosis of pediatric patients diagnosed with Herpes zoster(HZ) with an underlying comorbidity. Materials and Methods: Between 01.01.2011-01.01.2021 in our clinic; patients aged 0-18 years, with underlying comorbidities and diagnosed with HZ, who were followed up and treated, were evaluated retrospectively. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical findings, treatments applied during hospitalization, complications developed during follow-up and prognosis were obtained from hospital file archive records. Results: The mean age was 9.25±4.79 years, and 53.4% of patients were male. The most common symptom was rash, followed by pain and itching. Most commonly, 23 (51.1%) patients had thoracic dermatome involvement. Dissemination did not develop in any of the patients. 8.9% of the patients had chickenpox, 4.4% had varicella vaccine, and 48% had no history of varicella-zoster virus transmission. Acute leukemia and having had a bone marrow transplant were the most common co-existing conditions. Median time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 3 (min-max=1-10) days. Median length of hospitalization was 7 (min-max=3-21) days, and the mean total treatment time was 9.33±3.58 days. It was determined that only 4 patients developed secondary skin infection, 44 patients were cured, and 1 patient died due to the primary disease. Conclusion: While HZ is rare in healthy children, it can progress with serious complications in those with an underlying disease. To consider HZ in differential diagnosis of vesicles in immunocompromised patients, to start treatment with early diagnosis; It is of great importance in terms of complications and prognosis that may develop.

Keywords

• herpes zoster
• child
• underlying disease
• immunocompromise
• prognosis
• herpes zoster
• çocuk
• altta yatan hastalık
• immunkopromise
• prognoz