Age-dependent trigeminal and female-specific lumbosacral increase in herpes zoster distribution in the elderly

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection causes varicella and results in latent infection of the sensory ganglia, and its reactivation causes herpes zoster (HZ) along specific dermatomes. The incidence of HZ increases with age [1], and HZ occurs more commonly in female patients than in male patients [2–7]. We previously reported that HZ was observed in all age groups, especially in the elderly, at rates of 3–8 per 1,000 person-years in a study of 48,388 patients with HZ [4]. Among 16,784 patients in Miyazaki prefecture, recurrent episode were observed in 1,076 (6.4%) patients, three episodes were observed in 49 patients, and four episodes were observed in three patients [7].