Korean J Dermatol.  1982 Feb;20(1):69-76.

A Clinical Study on Herpes Zoster and Chicken Pox

• Kim JW
• Kim SY
• Lee KW
• Houh W
• Cho OJ
• Lee SW

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the epidemiology and the clinical characteristics of herpes zoster and chicken pox. 703 patients with herpes zoster and 237 patients with chicken pox who were seen at the Department of Dermatology, St. Marys Hospital during 8 years were taken for this retrospective study. Both groups of the patients were evaluated in regard to annual, seasonal and monthly incidence, age incidence and sex ratio. Patients with herpes zoster were further assessed concerning associated conditions, dermatomic distributions and complications. The results were as follows, 1. The annual rate for chicken pox ranged from 0.03% to 0.18% (mean 0.13%) and revealed no epidemics, however, its incidence was higher in early summer and winter. There was no sexual difference. Chicken pox was seen most. frequently in the 0-9 year age group (91.1%). 2. The annual rate for herpes zoster ranged from 0.23% to 0.52% (mean 0.38%). There were no significant annual, seasonal and monthly variations, and there was a. equal sex ratio. Herpes zoster was seen most frequently in the 50-59 year age group (19.1%) 3. The frequencies of the associated conditions in herpes zoster, in descending order, were infectious disease (2. 7%), diabetes mellitus (2.3%), malignant neoplasm(1. 4%), immunosuppressive drug (l. 4%), autoimmune disease (0.6%), and radiation therapy (0.4%). 4. The dermatomic involvement of herpes zoster was most frequent on thoracic dermatome (53.5%) and others were cervical (16.5%), lumber (10.1%), ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve (8.8%), sacral (1.6%), maxillary branch of trigemenal nerve (1.3%), mandibular branch of trigemical nerve (0.6%) and facial nerve dermatome (0.1%). The incidence of involving two different dermatomes was 2.9% and was most common on cervicothoracic dermatome (1.8%). However, one case of cervico thoracic dermatome showed bilateral involvement. 5. The most common complication of herpes zoster was postherpetic neuralgia (6.5%) and others were secondary bacterial infection (2.6%), keratoconjunctivitis (0.6%), keloid formation (0.3%), generalized varicelliform eruption (0.1%), Ramsay-Hunt syndrome (0.1%) and recurrent herpes zoster (0.1%). The mean age of incidence for postherpetic neuralgia was 58.4 years and its incidence was the highest over 70 years (39.5%). Postherpetic neuralgia was most frequently seen in the involvement of ophtalmic branch of trigeminal nerve.

MeSH Terms

Incidence