Epidemiological Study on the Incidence of Herpes Zoster in Nearby Cheonan

Background: Herpes Zoster is a disease that occurs after the virus is reactivated due to infection of the varicella virus in childhood. Risk factors are advanced age, malignant neoplasm, organ transplantation, immunosuppressive agents taking are known. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the seasonal effect and other risk factors on the incidence of herpes zoster. Methods: The medical records of 1,105 patients admitted to the outpatient diagnosed with herpes zoster were retrospectively examined. The patients` sex, age, dermatome, onset, underlying disease, residential areas were collected. Results: The incidence of women outnumbered men and increased for those above the age of 50. The number of occurrences of herpes zoster patients was higher in the spring and summer than in winter. Unlike men, women had the most frequent outbreaks in March. The most common occurrence of dermatome is in the thoracic region. The number of occurrence was similar on the left as the right. Conclusions: In this study, herpes zoster occurs more often in women than in men and more frequently occurs in women in the spring and summer. (Korean J Pain 2015; 28: 193-197)