The Chicken Pox Vaccine has Been Linked to Shingles in Healthy Patients

     Seven cases of pediatric shingles in healthy children at the site of chickenpox vaccination have been reported in the Journal of Pediatric Dermatological Reports. Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus which, after primarily affecting the host, can lay dormant for long periods of time, before reemerging as an acute infection known as shingles. Since the primary vaccine for chickenpox is a live-attenuated varicella-zoster virus, it was known to be theoretically possible that some who received the vaccine would develop shingles, but the recent research is first case of this phenomena being concretely reported in pediatric patients.
    Though most of the patients were initially misdiagnosed as having some other form of viral exanthem, they all were eventually correctly diagnosed with shingles, and most where given acyclovir for treatment. All seven made a full recovery.
    This study demonstrates the importance of recognizing the trademark signs of shingles outbreaks, even in patients who do not seem to fit the supposed shingles demographic. Quick recognition of shingles can save patients time and anguish, while leading to cheaper and more effective care.
-J. Cole Holderman
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