HERPETIC EYE ATTACKS - VARIABILITY OF CIRCANNUAL RHYTHMS

Background-The issue of seasonal variation of herpetic ocular infectio ns is still controversial. This study was designed to examine whether this variation exists and can be defined as a significant circannual r hythm. Methods-The patterns of recurrent attacks were monitored in 541 patients over a period of 15 years. Rhythm parameters were analysed a ccording to age, sex, and clinical signs. Results-The majority of herp etic eye attacks exhibited the highest peak in January (p(0.04), excep t in the group of atopic children where the incidence of the disease p eaked in September (p<0.05). Among the various clinical forms, signifi cant circannual periodicities were found only in the occurrence of epi thelial herpetic keratitis (p<0.03). The rhythms were detected among m ales (p<0.03) but not among females. No direct correlation was demonst rated between the presence of the rhythms and the triggering effect of upper respiratory tract infections. Conclusions-Chronoepidemiological evaluation of individual reactivation patterns may be beneficial to c ertain patients and contribute to the optimisation of the treatment wh en prophylaxis is considered.