Abstract
A statistical survey was performed on four hundred and sixteen Japanese patients with herpes zoster, who visited the dermatological clinic of Asahikawa Medical College since 1978 until 1992. These 416 cases (201 males and 215 females) accounted for 1.66% of the total number of new out-patients. The incidence of herpes zoster did not change from 1978 to 1992. A seasonal variation was observed with two peaks in March to May, and in August to October. Age distribution showed two peaks with the first appearing in patients in their twenties and the second in patients in their fifties and sixties. The most common site involved was the chest (27.1%) followed by the head (23.5%) and the waist and legs (22.3%). In patients over the age of 50, the face and neck areas were the most frequently affected. Two hundred and two patients (48.1%) had underlying disorders such as malignant tumors, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and collagen diseases. Generalized herpes zoster was seen in 25 cases (6.3%) with a predilection at the over 50 age group. A primary involvement of the head and underlying disorders such as malignant tumors and collagen diseases were other features of generalized herpes zoster. Post-herpetic neuralgia and face and neck lesions persisted longer in patients over the age of 50. Hunt syndrome occurred in five cases (1.2%) while herpes zoster ophthalmicus was observed in ten cases (2.4%).
