Childhood Asthma Linked to Increased Risk of Shingles in Later Life

Childhood asthma may actually increase the risks of shingles. Scientists have taken a closer look at why some people develop shingles and why others don't, and have found that there is a link with asthma in childhood.

"Asthma represents one of the five most burdensome chronic diseases in the U.S., affecting up to 17 percent of the population," said Young Juhn, one of the researchers, in a news release. "The effect of asthma on the risk of infection or immune dysfunction might very well go beyond the airways."

In this latest study, the researchers looked at medical records for potential patients, where 371 cases with shingles were identified during the study period. Of the 371 shingles cases, 23 percent had asthma. That's compared with just 15 percent from the control group. In fact, adults with asthma were at about a 70 percent greater risk of developing shingles.

With asthma and other atopic conditions accounted for, both asthma and atopic dermatitis were independently associated with a higher risk of shingles.

Currently, researchers aren't sure what the underlying mechanisms are. However, impairment in innate immune functions in the skin and airways is well-documented in patients with asthma or atopic dermatitis. Because asthma helps suppress adaptive immunity, it may increase the risk of varicella zoster virus reactivation.

"As asthma is an unrecognized risk factor for zoster in adults, consideration should be given to immunizing adults aged 50 years and older with asthma or atopic dermatitis as a target group for zoster vaccination," said Juhn.

The findings are published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

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