The Epidemiology and Prevention of Herpes Zoster

Herpes zoster is a common disease among older individuals, affecting approximately 25% of people in their lifetime and resulting in appreciable morbidity. The risk of zoster increases sharply with age and immunosuppression, yet relatively little is known about other risk factors for zoster. A vaccine for zoster is now available that holds the potential to reduce incidence of zoster and its complications. In this review, the recent literature on zoster incidence and potential risk factors for the disease are summarized. Current methods of preventing zoster and its associated morbidity are discussed, including zoster vaccine and the use of antivirals.