| Studies have concluded that 75% to 90% of the | | | | zoster) is increasing with the age. More rarely, children |
| cases of chickenpox were encountered in children | | | | can get herpes zoster too. 5% of those aged under |
| aged less than 10. Every year, 10% of those | | | | 15 have developed shingles. It seems that this |
| between 5 and 9 years old and 2% of those aged 10 | | | | happens if the child has a weakened immune system |
| to 14 develop chickenpox every year. All these | | | | or if he had chickenpox before he was one years old. |
| percents will decrease in a few years, when the | | | | The risk of developing shingles is increased for those |
| young vaccinated children will get older. | | | | who have problems with their immune system like |
| It seems that the disease appears in late winter and | | | | those who have AIDS, cancer, diabetes. Those who |
| early spring months and is transmitted through saliva, | | | | follow a treatment for AIDS containing protease |
| sneezing and coughing. Generally towels, bed sheets, | | | | inhibitors are also exposed to shingles. 15% of those |
| and clothes are not responsible for the transmission | | | | who have Hodgkin's disease, lymphomas and other |
| of the disease. | | | | cancers and are following chemotherapy are at risk |
| The spreading of the disease is possible within two | | | | of having shingles. Drugs called immunosuppressant |
| days before the spots appear on skin and the end of | | | | are exposing patients to herpes zoster and other |
| the blister stage. This means five to seven days of | | | | infections too. These drugs are: Azathioprine |
| possible contamination. After the dry scabs form the | | | | (Imuran), Chlorambucil, Cyclophosphamide, |
| rate of contamination decreases. Therefore, it is best | | | | Cyclosporine, and Cladribine. These drugs are |
| to keep away your child from any contacts, including | | | | generally used in those who have suffered an organ |
| from going to school, for about 10 days. | | | | transplant but they can also be used in treating |
| Once your child has had chickenpox he is exposed to | | | | systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn's disease, |
| shingles too for the rest of his life. 10 to 20% of | | | | rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. |
| those who have had chickenpox will suffer from | | | | Only those who have a good immune system |
| shingles later. In US, 600,000 to 850,000 people | | | | response and those who have been vaccinated |
| develop shingles every year and the number of | | | | against chickenpox and shingles are spared from |
| affected people is increasing every year. | | | | developing them. |
| It seems that the risk of getting shingles (herpes | | | | |