Herpes zoster

Herpes zoster or Shingles refers to girdle-like skin eruptions that may occur on the trunk of the body. The varicella zoster virus (VSV) can become dormant in nerve cells after an episode of chickenpox and later reemerge as shingles. Initially, red patches of rash develop into blisters.

Inflammatory disease therapies do not increase shingles risk

Use of certain therapies for inflammatory diseases does not appear to increase risk of shingles – Although patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a disproportionately higher incidence of herpes zoster (shingles), an analysis that included nearly 60,000 patients with RA and other inflammatory diseases found that those who initiated anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies were not at higher risk of herpes zoster compared with patients who initiated nonbiologic treatment regimens.

MMRV vaccine linked to double risk of seizures

Combination MMRV vaccine linked with 2-fold risk of seizures — Electronic health records study of 459,000 children sparked new CDC recommendations – The combination vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (MMRV) is associated with double the risk of febrile seizures for 1- to 2-year-old children compared with same-day administration of the separate vaccine for MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and the varicella (V) vaccine for chicken pox.

Herpes zoster or shingles risk more with rheumatoid arthritis medicines

Type of rheumatoid arthritis medication may be associated with increased risk for shingles – Use of certain medications known as monoclonal anti tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a) antibodies for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis appears to be associated with an increased risk for herpes zoster (shingles), the painful infection characterized by blisters, according to a study in the February 18 issue of JAMA.

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