Chicken pox is a self-limited exanthematous disease that primarily affects children. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) has been considered to be the causative agent. VZV infections manifest as varicella and herpes zoster usually cause mild infections, without any severe complications in immunocompetent children [1]. However, in certain individuals with immunocompromised status, the infection may sho...

The authors describe an acyclovir-resistant varicella zoster virus infection in a pediatric patient after hematopoietic stem cell transplant, the use of foscarnet as salvage therapy, and review the literature to clarify the pediatric experience with foscarnet in this setting. A novel thymidine kinase mutation is described, along with a new phenotypic assay for characterizing acyclovir resistanc...

Varicella-zoster (chickenpox) infection is a common infectious disease and generally considered to be selflimiting. However, severe bacterial complications associated with the disease have been reported. We describe a case of varicella-zoster infection with secondary Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, preseptal orbital cellulitis and extensive facial abscesses. She was aggressively treated with ...

BACKGROUND A possible association of multiple sclerosis (MS) with viral diseases has been postulated; in previous studies we have found that in Mexican mestizos the antecedent of varicella during childhood represents a risk factor for the development of MS during adulthood. AIM We conducted a retrospective search for varicella and zoster infections associated with the development of MS. MET...

background and objectives: varicella–zoster virus (vzv) is a human herpes virus that usually attacks young children and commonly causes chicken pox (varicella). following primary infection, a lifelong latent infection is established. the virus often reactivates during adulthood or senesces to cause shingles (zoster). little is known regarding the genotypes of varicella in kuwait. the aim of thi...

Herpes zoster (shingles) is caused by reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus which is present due to an earlier varicella infection (chicken-pox). Herpes Zoster is a less common and endemic disease than varicella, although factors causing reactivation are still not well known, but it occurs in older and/or immunocompromised individuals. Involvement of C3, T5, L1, L2 and first divisio...

Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus that resides in a dorsal root ganglion. Herpes zoster can develop any time after a primary infection. Because varicella vaccine is a live attenuated virus, herpes zoster can develop in a vaccine recipient. The incidence of herpes zoster among vaccine recipients is about 14 cases per 100,000 person-years. In young children,...

The molecular epidemiology of varicella-zoster virus in London, England, between 1971 and 1995 was examined by using two informative polymorphic markers, variable repeat region R5 and a BglI restriction site in gene 54. Viruses from 105 cases of chickenpox and 144 of zoster were typed. Two alleles of R5, A and B, were found at prevalences of 89 and 6%, respectively. No difference in allele freq...

On 16 and 17 November 2006, the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (NCIRS) hosted a workshop on varicella-zoster virus (VZV) disease. The workshop was aimed at presenting the latest information on the clinical, epidemiological, and diagnostic aspects of both primary varicella (‘chickenpox’) and herpes zoster (HZ or ‘shingles’) both in Aust...

background and objective: varicella zoster virus (vzv) can cause life-threatening disease in pregnant women. the aim of this study was to identify the vzv immune status in pregnant women and also determine the validity of self-reported history for chickenpox. methods: serologic testing for vzv was performed for 400 pregnant women attending prenatal care at clinics located in two teaching and re...