What Causes Shingles?
6. Risk Factors
Some of the known risk factors besides immunosuppression and advancing age include primary VZV infection in utero or early infancy, those taking anti tumor necrosis factor agents, malignancies, and those with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS).
Research has found that individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher likelihood of shingles. An analysis reported that the overall annual incidence was 734 per 100,000 person-years compared to 437 in patients without IBD. Patients with colon cancer and multiple myeloma who are treated with arsenic trioxide also have a higher risk of shingles. A study in United Kingdom found that those with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, asthma, and depression have a higher risk of shingles.
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