The epidemiology of Herpes Zoster

Abstract

The epidemiology of Zoster is analysed by means of data acquired from the Zoster Clinic at Moorfields and the RCGP Research Unit. It complements and extends previous surveys, using much larger and consistent data, showing the effects of age, sex and season. The behaviour in the population as a whole and the pathogenesis are discussed; a model is proposed to explain the characteristics of some of the data, particularly the effects of age and non-specific stresses.