Herpes zoster and patient age

Abstract number: r2217

Kanavaki  S., Skroubellou  A., Karabela  S., Varonou  E., Raftopoulou  A., Anagnostou  S., Kolettou  M., Makarona  M., Nikolaou  S.

Objective: 

To analyse the correlation between age and clinical form, anatomical site and pain in zoster.

Material and method: 

We retrospectively analysed the case records of our patients with Herpes Zoster admitted in Hospital of Infectious Diseases between 1 Jan 2000–31 Dec 2004. We performed four groups of different ages excluding all those with acquired immunosuppression. Statistical was performed in EPIINFO 6, Excel statistical analysis and SPSS10.

Results: 

289 patients with median age 58.2 (max 86 years and min 2 years of age), 94% adults, 56% women. The divide on age groups was: younger than 18 years 6% of cases, 19–40 years 9% of cases, 41–65 years 37% of cases and older than 65 years 48% of cases. After clinical form we recorded: 147 cases with typical form, 71 case with extension, 19 with dissemination and 50 patients with septic complication. Age did not influence the appearance of clinical form neither the typical nor the disseminated one. Anatomical site for exanthema was: cervical in 50 cases, trigeminal in 39 cases, Ramsay Hunt syndrome in 8 cases, thoracic in 123 cases, lombar-sacrat in 50 cases and dissemination in 19 cases. Except Ramsay-Hunt syndrome which rare appear over 65 (p < 0.05 ) and trigeminal zoster which is more frequent over 65 (p = 0.08), age did not influence the anatomical site of exanthema. Post herpetic neuralgia complicated 137 cases frequently over 65 years (p = 0.00042).

Conclusions: 

1) zoster is rare under 40 years; 2) the clinical form of disease is not influenced by age; 3) patient age not influence the anatomical site excepting Ramsay Hunt syndrome and trigeminal form; 4) post herpetic neuralgia complicate the course of disease over 65 years.