Zoster, or shingles, is a reactivation of a latent infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Herpes zoster, which can occur after varicella infection or vaccination, is rare in children. Annual incidence is less than 1/1000 in children aged younger than 10 years. Maternal varicella infection during pregnancy, infection during the first year of life, and immunocompromised status are risk factors for zoster development in childhood.

Involvement of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve may lead to herpes zoster ophthalmicus. Herpes zoster oticus (Ramsay-Hunt syndrome) occurs with involvement of the vestibulocochlear nerve. Herpes zoster duplex is the simultaneous occurrence of zoster in 2 noncontiguous dermatomes and herpes zoster multiplex refers to this phenomenon occurring in more than 2 dermatomes. While most patients with herpes zoster duplex or multiplex are adults, children affected by this condition have also been reported.

Although the onset of cutaneous zoster in adults typically involves a 1- to 3-day prodrome of burning pain or tingling in the affected dermatome, this is rarely observed in children. Postherpetic neuralgia is also rare in children. Other less frequently encountered post-zoster sequelae include herpes zoster granulomatous dermatitis.

If it occurs, zoster encephalitis usually appears in the first 2 weeks after the onset of lesions and has a 10%-20% mortality rate. Disseminated zoster occurs 5-10 days after the onset of dermatomal disease. It is defined as more than 20 lesions outside the initial dermatome of involvement.

Immunocompromised patient considerations: Immunocompromised patients have a higher risk of disseminated zoster. In patients with HIV and AIDS, multidermatomal, necrotic, or recurrent zoster may occur. Persistent ulcers and chronic hyperkeratotic zoster are further manifestations. A strong association of herpes zoster multiplex with underlying malignancy (especially lymphoma) was reported in one retrospective study.