Authors

  1. Section Editor(s): Pfeifer, Gail M. MA, RN

Article Content

One episode of shingles doesn't protect against future episodes. Researchers followed 1,669 patients who'd had an episode of herpes zoster infection (shingles); follow-up was an average of 7.3 years (as long as 12 years in some cases). In this study, published in the February issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers found that the rate of recurrence in the study group was similar to the rate of first episodes, with some patients having as many as three recurrences. The high recurrence rate suggests that herpes zoster vaccination should be offered to people who've had an episode to prevent recurrence, conclude the authors.