It is more common in elderly people or immunocompromised people and can be accompanied by serious complications. This study was performed to investigate the clinical manifestation of herpes zoster according to immune status in children. Methods: This study was retrospectively included 307 children under 18 years who were diagnosed and treated with herpes zoster at Inha University Hospital from 1997 to 2017 based on medical records. These patients were divided into two groups according to their immunity and their clinical features were compared. Results: The mean age of the total 307 patients was 10.2 years, 151 (49.2%) in males. Eighty-seven patients were hospitalized and 220 patients were treated in an outpatient clinic. Most patients received antiviral treatment. The most common dermatomal distribution of the skin lesion was the thoracic region, followed by trigeminal, lumbar and sacral, cervical region. Twenty-one patients were immunocompromised and fifteen of them were hematologic disorders. Admission rate, history of chickenpox and mean duration of treatment were significantly higher in immunocompromised group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in age, dermatomal distribution and complication between the two groups. Complications were observed in 50 cases and more than half of them were zoster ophthalmicus. Another complication was Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, meningitis and skin infection. Conclusion: Immunocompromised patients had a longer duration of treatment and a higher history of chickenpox. The incidence of complications, dermatomal distribution and age did not differ from that of immunocompetent children.

Neurologic complications associated with varicella zoster virus (VZV) are rare in children. A 13yearold boy was hospitalized due to headache, fever, and vomiting. Aseptic viral meningitis was strongly suspicious based on findings on physical exam, cerebrospinal fluid examination, and brain magnetic resonance imaging. On the second day of hospitalization, typical zosteriform rashes developed on his left chest wall across the T7T8 dermatome. Tzanck test of the skin lesion was positive and polymerase chain reaction test for VZV was positive on the second cerebrospinal fluid examination. Serum immunoglobulin levels were within normal range. Intra venous acyclovir was started and symptoms and signs of meningitis gradually improved and the patient was discharged without any complications. In immu no competent children, VZV meningitis is rare and requires rapid diagnosis and treat ment. Therefore, it is necessary to prompt diagnosis and treatment thorough medical history, physical examination and laboratory examination.