Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a highly contagious human pathogen. Virus causes varicella (chickenpox) as a primary infection during which a lifelong latent infection is established. It is easily passed through airborne particles, droplets in exhaled air and fluids from blisters or sores. Virus can be also transmitted indirectly by a contact with articles of clothing and other items exposed to...

Introduction Herpes zoster, which can have a major impact on quality of life, results from reactivation of a latent varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection. We hypothesized that giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients are at increased risk of herpes zoster because of treatment with high-dose glucocorticoids and advanced age. Aim of the study, therefore, was to determine cell-mediated and humoral imm...

Varicella (chickenpox) in pregnancy is unusual because most women of childbearing age are immune. It can, however, cause significant morbidity for the pregnant woman and in rare cases cause congenital varicella syndrome. The incidence of congenital varicella syndrome after maternal varicella during the first two trimesters is <1% across multiple cohort studies. Maternal infection in the third t...

BACKGROUND The authors sought to monitor the impact of widespread varicella vaccination on the epidemiology of varicella and herpes zoster. While varicella incidence would be expected to decrease, mathematical models predict an initial increase in herpes zoster incidence if re-exposure to varicella protects against reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. METHODS In 1998-2003, as varicella...

Post-zoster eosinophilic dermatosis is a rare disease that occurs as an isotopic response in the region of previously healed herpes zoster. We report here on a case of post-zoster eosinophilic dermatosis that occurred 13 years after an episode of herpes zoster. A 48-year-old woman presented with several pruritic, brown papules and plaques in the same dermatome where her previous episode of herp...

introduction wegener’s granulomatosis is a lethal disease with granulomatous inflammation and necrotizing vasculitis. case presentation the case was a 63-year-old female with a history of wegener’s granulomatosis presented with erythema of the arm within which there was a crusted or ulcerated lesion surrounded by small vesicles that was confirmed as herpes simplex infection. conclusions current...

A 74-year-old white man presented with unilateral radicular pain extending across the left side of his chest and back. A diagnosis of postherpetic neuralgia, a sequela of herpes zoster, was made. Herpes zoster represents a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus that lies dormant in patients with past chickenpox. Risk factors for the disease include advanced age, stress, immunodeficiency, an...

Review of literature revealed atleast 30 cases of post herpes zoster osteonecrosis of maxilla or mandible. To our knowledge this is a first reported case of Ramsay-Hunt syndrome with post herpetic neuralgia and post herpes zoster osteonecrosis of edentulous maxilla and mandible. We have briefly reviewed the pathophysiology and management of post herpes zoster osteonecrosis and post herpetic neu...

Repeated and disseminated eruptions herpes zoster are frequently detected in immunocompromised patients, but are rare in immuno-competent individuals. We report a case of recurrent herpes zoster in a young healthy male, who redeveloped herpes zoster in a different dermatome after one year.