Review article

Advantages and disadvantages of varicella and herpes zoster vaccination

Sofiya Andreykanich ; Klinika za infektivne bolesti "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Mirta Rode ; Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Dorotea Oroši ; Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Iva Škrabić ; Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Dalibor Vukelić ; Klinika za infektivne bolesti "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

Varicella is a common acute infectious disease, generally with a good prognosis. However, varicella may present as severe and life threatening disease. Varicella is a vaccine-preventable disease and varicella vaccination has been carried out in some countries (USA, Australia) for decades. Mandatory childhood vaccination against varicella is not common in Europe. After primary infection varicella zoster virus (VZV) stays within the host permanently and VZV reactivation causes herpes zoster (HZ). HZ is also a disease with generally good prognosis, but also with potentialy severe complications, and the most distinguished one is postherpetic neuralgia. HZ is also a vaccine-preventable disease. This paper describes prophylactic possibilities against varicella and HZ and their advantages and disadvantages. Vaccine implementation should be encouraged, especially vaccination of individuals who are at high risk of developing severe disease. Further studies on attenuated vaccines and also on new recombinant vaccines, new route of vaccine administration and booster vaccination will bring new knowledge on vaccine impact on severe disease incidence and VZV and HZ complications.

Keywords

Varicella-zoster virus; varicella; herpes-zoster; vaccination; treatment; risk groups

Hrčak ID:

182356

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/182356

Publication date:

31.3.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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