Vaccination against Varicella Zoster Virus
Since 2004 the Varizella Zoster vaccination has been officially recommended by STIKO together with the vaccination against mumps, measles and rubella. It is a live vaccine, i.e. the body actively forms antibodies against the administered vaccine. At the same time, it produces memory cells that remember when they come into renewed contact with vaccine-like structures and regulate specific antibody production.
Thus, 70-90% of vaccinated patients can receive lifelong immunity. If there is no vaccination protection in the form of active immunization, passive immunization is possible. In this case, the patient is not administered antigens but the specific antibodies directly.
The disadvantage of such an immunization is the absence of memory cell formation and thus only a temporary protection. Likewise, passive immunization cannot be administered after infection but must also be carried out before exposure. Patients with an indication for this method are unvaccinated pregnant women in a risk environment. Infants who develop varicella infection during pregnancy are also given a combination of acyclovir and the antibodies after birth.
Pathways of Varicella Zoster infection
As already mentioned, the Varicella Zoster Virus is mainly transmitted via the air and respiratory tract. However, another source of infection is transmission through the skin. If the blisters burst open, e.g. due to frequent scratching, smear infections can occur.
Contact persons can thus become infected via small injuries in the skin or via the mucous membranes. Close contact should therefore be avoided if there is no immunity.
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