6533b860fe1ef96bd12c3a34

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Reducing the burden of Herpes Zoster in Italy.

Giovanni GabuttiSilvestro ScottiAlessandro RossiAntonio VolpiElisabetta FrancoStefania MaggiMarzia LazzariMichele ConversanoDonato GrecoVitale FrancescoAntonio FerroPaolo Bonanni

subject

medicine.medical_specialtyPediatricsHerpes Zoster epidemiology burden prevention immunizationSettore MED/17 - Malattie InfettiveCost-Benefit AnalysisImmunologyNeuralgia PostherpeticDiseaseSettore MED/42 - Igiene Generale E ApplicataimmunizationHerpes ZosterHerpes Zoster; epidemiology; burden; prevention; immunizationburdenChickenpox VaccinepreventionEpidemiologymedicineHumansImmunology and AllergyChickenpox VaccinePharmacologyHerpes Zoster; burden; epidemiology; immunization; preventionbusiness.industryIncidenceIncidence (epidemiology)medicine.diseaseSurgeryVaccinationAllodyniaItalyNeuralgiaepidemiologyViral diseasemedicine.symptombusinessResearch Paper

description

Herpes Zoster (HZ) is a viral disease with painful neuro-dermatologic manifestations. Incidence increases with age. In Italy, the estimated incidence is 6.3 cases/1000 person/year; hospital admissions are less than 2%, 69% in patients aged over 65 years. The most frequent complication of HZ is Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN) characterized by metameric pain, allodynia, and hyperalgesia. In Italy 20.6% and 9.2% of HZ patients experience PHN after 3 and 6 months, respectively. Available antiviral and analgesic treatments are relatively unsatisfactory in reducing pain and length of the disease. Prevention has recently become possible with the live attenuated vaccine Oka/Merck. Clinical studies show a reduction of 51% in the incidence of the disease, 61% of its burden and 67% of PHN in vaccinees. Protection seems to be long lasting and vaccine safety matches registration requirements. Available evidence suggests that the costs for QALY (less than € 20 000) and avoided cases is favorable. Due to the heavy burden of disease, it is time to offer this vaccination to elderly population.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2015-01-01
10.4161/hv.34363http://hdl.handle.net/2108/111109