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Shingles in children is a rare disease caused by the VZV virus, which is also responsible for chickenpox. When a child has smallpox, the virus remains in the body in a latent form after it recovers. The latent virus can become active when immunity declines occur. Then she develops shingles.
Shingles in children is extremely rare. Importantly, the child also experiences shingles much more gently, and the risk of complications is also much lower. Is it possible to infect a child with shingles?
Shingles in children – characteristics
Shingles develops during the period of immunosuppression. The VZV virus, which also causes chickenpox, is responsible for the development of shingles. Smallpox manifests as a vesicular rash that can appear all over the skin, even where the skin is hairy and on the mucous membranes.
Shingles in children occurs when the latent varicella virus is reactivated. However, activation of the virus usually occurs many years after getting smallpox, which is why cases of shingles in children are so rare.
Shingles in children – causes
The main reason for the reactivation of the pox virus is decreased immunity. Usually the disease affects adults, but shingles can also occur in children. The risk factors for developing shingles in children can be both congenital and acquired, i.e. the aforementioned immune disorders and having smallpox as an infant (when the mother got smallpox during pregnancy).
Shingles in children – symptoms
The symptoms of shingles in children are primarily a vesicular rash along the so-called dermatomes, or places on the skin that are innervated by a single spinal nerve. The rash can appear along one or more adjacent dermatomes. The changes associated with herpes zoster in children are usually papular.
In the case of shingles in children, the so-called prodromal symptoms. These include pain, tingling and skin tenderness. After the appearance of changes, they are usually accompanied by severe pain.
The rash usually lasts 10 to 21 days. It is worth knowing that shingles rash in children and adults can have different forms:
- hemorrhagic variety – quite large hemorrhagic blisters;
- disseminated variety – blisters appear all over the body, as with chickenpox;
- ophthalmic shingles – blisters on the cornea of the eye;
- sciatic nerve shingles;
- facial shingles – blisters then appear on the face.
Shingles in children – treatment
Treatment of herpes zoster in children is based on the administration of antiviral and analgesic drugs. Unfortunately, vesicular skin lesions may become superinfected, which usually leads to the introduction of antibiotics.
Medicines, even those available without a prescription, should be used after consulting a doctor. Shingles is less contagious than chicken pox. People with immune disorders are the easiest to get infected. Shingles can become infected until the blisters dry up.
The symptoms of shingles in children can be confused, among others with herpetic dermatitis, urticaria or molluscum contagiosum.
Shingles is diagnosed after a medical history and physical examination, and any doubts will be dispelled by PCR or Tzanc smear.
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