Hospitalizations for herpes zoster skyrocket in Spain

• Health The Community of Madrid already vaccinates against herpes zoster to those over 65 years of age

Research published by a team from the

(Isciii) in the magazine 'Eurosurveillance', of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, confirms that

for

have increased between 1998 and 2018.

Scientists from the ISCIII National Center for Epidemiology and the Ciber de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (Ciberesp) analyzed the more than 65,000 cases of people hospitalized in Spain due to herpes zoster between 1998 and 2018 registered in the System's hospital discharge database. National Health.

The results show that hospitalizations for herpes zoster have increased in this period of time and that "vaccination in Spain is well aligned with its clinical consequences", since it has been confirmed that the most serious cases, in terms of mortality and readmission hospital, correspond to the specific population groups in which vaccination is recommended.

The varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a

that causes two diseases, in both cases preventable thanks to vaccination.

The first of these, chickenpox, usually occurs in childhood, and there is a vaccine that has been administered for years in children.

The second disease is herpes zoster, and it arises because the same virus that caused chickenpox remains latent in the body, reactivates and can cause this infection in adulthood.

The disease is characterized by

, which can sometimes be complicated by prolonged neuralgia, the so-called postherpetic neuralgia, with encephalitis, pneumonia, hearing problems, and ocular complications with temporary or permanent loss of vision.

herpes vaccine

Currently, vaccination against herpes zoster in Spain is recommended for groups of people with a weakened immune system, specifically transplant recipients, those affected by HIV and people receiving certain drugs to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer.

In addition, given the increase in cases and the risks in older people, this study supports the recommendation to vaccinate people over 65 years of age, a decision approved by the Public Health Commission of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System last year, which is already included in the lifelong vaccination schedule and which is already being carried out.

For Zaida Herrador, Noemí López-Perea and Josefa Masa Calles, researchers at the National Epidemiology Center, this research "provides relevant and innovative information on various clinical aspects of herpes zoster, and highlights that this infection represents a public health problem in Spain that Priority must be given, especially due to its growing incidence, its relationship with aging and its special severity in certain risk groups".

As explained by the Carlos III Health Institute, "the gradual introduction of vaccination against herpes zoster will improve the epidemiology of this disease in Spain."

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