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Review
. 2025 Feb 26;13(3):71.
doi: 10.3390/diseases13030071.

Herpes Zoster: Risk Factors for Occurrence, Complications, and Recurrence with a Focus on Immunocompromised Patients

Michał Oleszko  1 , Paweł Zapolnik  1 , Wojciech Kmiecik  2 , Hanna Czajka  1
Affiliations
Review

Herpes Zoster: Risk Factors for Occurrence, Complications, and Recurrence with a Focus on Immunocompromised Patients

Michał Oleszko et al. Diseases. .

Abstract

Background: The varicella-zoster virus is a highly contagious human herpesvirus that primarily causes varicella (chickenpox) as an initial infection, targeting T cells, neurons, as well as skin cells, and can later reactivate to cause herpes zoster (shingles). Following reactivation, the varicella-zoster virus infection can lead to severe complications, the most common of which is postherpetic neuralgia. Risk factors include aging, immunosuppression, chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, respiratory conditions, and others.

Objective: In this article, we present an analysis of factors increasing the risk of herpes zoster occurrence, complications, and recurrences (in particular in immunocompromised patients).

Keywords: chickenpox; communicable disease; herpes zoster; immunology; infections.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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