Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a herpesvirus that causes two clinically distinct forms of disease, varicella (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (shingles). Primary VZV infection results in characteristic diffuse vesicular rash of chickenpox. Although vaccination substantially attenuates disease manifestations, significant complications such as secondary soft tissue infection, encephalitis, and pne...

Lymphadenitis caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria is an uncommon manifestation in immunocompetent individuals. Here, we report a case of Mycobacterium fortuitum infection in a previously healthy 9-year-old patient who developed cervical lymphadenitis evolving to a suppurative ulcer associated with a varicella-zoster virus infection. We discuss the relationship between the varicella-zoster vi...

We report the first laboratory-documented case of herpes zoster caused by the attenuated varicella zoster virus (VZV) contained in Zostavax in a 68-year-old immunocompetent adult with strong evidence of prior wild-type VZV infection. The complete genome sequence of the isolate revealed that the strain carried 15 of 42 (36%) recognized varicella vaccine-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms...

When a patient presents with acute voiding dysfunction without a typical skin rash, it may be difficult to make a diagnosis of herpes zoster. Here, we present a case of scrub typhus in a 25-year-old man with the complication of urinary dysfunction. The patient complained of loss of urinary voiding sensation and constipation. After eight days, he had typical herpes zoster eruptions on the sacral...

Multiple neurologic complications may follow the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), including herpes zoster (also known as zoster or shingles), postherpetic neuralgia, vasculopathy, myelitis, necrotizing retinitis, and zoster sine herpete (pain without rash). These conditions can be difficult to recognize, especially as several can occur without rash.

The subclass specificities of antiviral immunoglobulin G (IgG) produced in response to herpes simplex and varicella-zoster virus infections were investigated. IgG1 and IgG3 with anti-herpes simplex virus activity were seen in patients with primary and reactivated disease, as well as in healthy seropositive subjects and in immunoglobulin preparations. IgG4 was occasionally seen alone or together...

References 1. Dworkin. Racial differences in herpes zoster and age at onset of varicella. J Infect Dis 1996; 174:239-40. 2. Schmader KE, George LK, Hamilton JD. Racial differences in the occurrence of herpes zoster. J Infect Dis 1995; 171:701-5. 3. van Loon F, Markowitz L, McQuillan G, et al. Varicella seroprevalence in U.S. population [abstract 1311]. In: Program and abstracts of the 33rd Inte...

Varicella-zoster virus is one of six herpesviruses isolated from humans. The core of a typical herpesvirus contains a linear, double-stranded DNA, whereas the viral capsid is icosadeltahedral and contains 162 capsomeres with a hole running down the long axis (1). The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is associated with two distinct clinical syndromes: varicella (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (shingl...

VARICELLA AND ZOSTER Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the cause of two diseases, varicella (chickenpox), which is a primary infection, and zoster (shingles), a secondary infection caused by reactivation of latent VZV.1 In the United States, vancella is typically an ifiness of children under the age of 10 years; 5% to 10% of adults remain susceptible. Varicella is a systemic infection that stimul...