Vaccination against Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 197; no. Supplement-2; pp. S228 - S236
• Main Authors: Oxman, Michael N., Levin, Myron J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The University of Chicago Press 01.03.2008; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chickenpox; Double-Blind Method; Exanthema; Female; Herpes zoster; Herpes Zoster - complications; Herpes Zoster - epidemiology; Herpes Zoster - prevention & control; Herpes Zoster - virology; Herpes Zoster Vaccine - administration & dosage; Herpes Zoster Vaccine - adverse effects; Herpesvirus 3, Human - classification; Herpesvirus 3, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 3, Human - immunology; Herpesvirus 3, Human - isolation & purification; Humans; Male; Neuralgia, Postherpetic - epidemiology; Neuralgia, Postherpetic - etiology; Neuralgia, Postherpetic - prevention & control; Neuralgia, Postherpetic - virology; Older adults; Pain; Placebos; Polymerase chain reaction; Postherpetic neuralgia; Supplement; Treatment Outcome; Vaccination; Varicella zoster encephalitis; Varicella-zoster virus

Background. Herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) cause significant morbidity in older adults. The incidence and severity of HZ and PHN increase with age in association with an age-related decline in varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-specific cell-mediated immunity (VZV-CMI). VZV vaccines c...