Clinical Trial: Herpes Zoster Prevalence in Frailty Consultations

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational




Official Title: Herpes Zoster Prevalence in Frailty Consultations in University Hospital of Toulouse

Brief Summary:

Herpes zoster and post herpetic pain are common causes of morbidity in the elderly. Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of the virus varicella zoster of latent infection in sensory ganglia. The acute phase of herpes zoster usually occurs ≤ 30 days after rash onset. However, the most common complication of herpes zoster is the post herpetic pain, which is usually defined as a persistent chronic pain for ≥ 3 months after rash onset. The risk of herpes zoster in life is 25-30%, but this figure rises to 50% among those aged ≥ 85 years. Similarly, the risk of experiencing post herpetic pain increases with age.

Despite treatment with antiviral drugs, post herpetic pain has been reported in 10-20% of all patients with herpes zoster, but its incidence increases significantly in elderly patients over 60 years. It can be particularly harmful when it occurs on a particular field, elderly multiple pathologies, fragile and with multiple treatment. In this context of decompensation "cascade" greatly exacerbate the impact of the initial local disease. Ophthalmologic involvement is rare but clinically worrisome and generates significant costs.