Washington D.C., Jan. 26 -- : Sustained exposure to children with chickenpox (varicella) reduces the risk for adults to develop shingles (herpes zoster) by up to 30 per cent over a 20-year period, says a study. The findings of the study, published in the British Medical Journal, substantiate the theory that when adults are re-exposed to the herpes zoster virus (after chickenpox infection as a child), their immunity towards shingles gets further strengthened.
It was, however, noted that this phenomenon did not ensure complete protection against the disease.
In light of these findings, the researchers call for a review of the UK's childhood varicella vaccination policy, which assumes complete immunity for between two and 20 years.
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