Herpes zoster infection after bone marrow transplantation in children.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of, risk factors for, and clinical course of herpes zoster (HZ) after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in children.

STUDY

DESIGN

A total of 107 children with hematologic malignancy or solid tumor who underwent allogeneic or autologous BMT were studied retrospectively.

RESULTS

Of the 107 patients, HZ developed in 35 (33%) after BMT; 31 (89%) of these 35 patients had localized HZ. The median onset of infection was day 96 after BMT, and 89% of cases of HZ occurred before day 365 after BMT. HZ developed in 26 (58%) of 45 patients (13/21 (62%) allogeneic and 13/24 (54%) autologous patients) with hematologic malignancy; most of these patients had undergone total body irradiation. Of 33 patients with solid tumor, HZ developed in 9 (27%). All patients with HZ were treated with acyclovir, and no patients died of complications directly resulting from HZ.

CONCLUSION

Herpes zoster occurred earlier after BMT than in adults, and it occurred frequently in children who had hematologic malignancy and/or had undergone total body irradiation. Prompt antiviral therapy reduced the mortality rate and significant morbidity associated with HZ.