Higher Prevalence and Distinct Features of Herpes Zoster Infection in Children than Adults with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• Published in: The Pediatric infectious disease journal Vol. 34; no. 8; pp. 905 - 907
• Main Authors: Gormezano, Natali W S, Silva, Clovis A, Otsuzi, Carini I, Barros, Diego L, da Silva, Mariana A, Sallum, Adriana M E, Pasoto, Sandra, Pereira, Rosa M R, Bonfá, Eloisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-08-2015
• Subjects: Adult; Child; Herpes Zoster - complications; Herpes Zoster - epidemiology; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - complications; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - epidemiology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - virology; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 0891-3668; 1532-0987
• DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000000756

Herpes zoster infection was significantly more often observed in children (10%, N = 362) than in adults (4%, N = 1830). At herpes zoster infection diagnosis, disease activity score (8 vs. 3, P = 0.002) was higher in children, and fever (43% vs. 12%, P < 0.0001), nephritis (45% vs. 25%, P = 0.038), anti-double-stranded DNA autoantibodies (76% vs. 15%, P < 0.0001) and low C4 (48% vs. 22%, P = 0.017) were more often observed in children versus adults. Post herpetic neuralgia was less common in children than adults (3% vs. 24%, P =0.005).