The Varicella Zoster virus persists in sensory nerve ganglion cells after chicken pox and gets reactivated to cause herpes zoster after variable periods of time as a result of waning of specific cellular immunity. Susceptible contacts of herpes zoster can develop chicken pox and very rarely herpes zoster. We report an interesting case of a father and his son who developed herpes zoster simultan...

Herpes zoster occurs in 10% to 20% of the general population as a result of reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and is generally benign. It occurs more frequently in persons with cellular immunodeficiency and older age. The association between herpes zoster and HIV was confirmed early in the course of the HIV epidemic by numerous studies. Zoster was noted to precede AIDS in high-ri...

Commonly accepted outcomes of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections include chickenpox (primary) and shingles (recurrence or latency), as well lifetime immunity against chickenpox. We report the case of a registered nurse who worked in a neurologic surgery ward in a general hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. While working there for approximately 1 year, she developed recurrent chickenpox after carin...

either before or during the period of immunosuppression does not necessarily confer protection. This is illustrated by two of our patients. Case reports Case 1. A boy, aged 3 years 5 months, first presented with a history of a progressive petechial rash. Physical examination showed pallor, bruising, and hepatosplenomegaly. A bone marrow aspirate confirmed a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leuk...

Persistent multiple pulmonary nodules were observed on the chest X ray of a nonimmunocompromised woman 6 months after she was treated with acyclovir for a varicella-related myelitis without respiratory symptoms. Early antiviral therapy given for varicella infections might decrease the intensity of clinical symptoms without actually preventing the occurrence of varicella-zoster virus-related les...

OBJECTIVE To determine if reductions in medically-attended pediatric varicella and herpes zoster occurred in Ontario, Canada, after publicly-funded varicella immunization was implemented in 2004. METHODS For fiscal years (FY) 1992-2011, we examined data on varicella and herpes zoster physician office visits, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations (including for varicella-associate...

Varicella (chicken pox) is a highly contagious disease which is caused by Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), a ubiquitous human α herpes virus. Nosocomial varicella in hospital employees can be costly to the hospital and disruptive to patient care. This case report describes an occupationally related outbreak of chickenpox in hospital staff and the lessons which were learnt by the hospital during th...

Ninety throat swabs from 30 healthy children who received varicella vaccine were tested for varicella zoster virus DNA by the polymerase chain reaction. Seroconversion was observed in 27 of 30 (90%) vaccinees. The positive rates were 7.4% (2/27) at one week and 0% (0/27) at four weeks after vaccination. These rates were considerably lower than those in normal children with varicella.

In the article 'Surveillance of viral pathogens in Australia: varicella-zoster virus' published in the previous issue of Communicable Diseases Intelligence, 1 the authors dismiss passive surveillance as unworkable because of 'the large numbers of cases of chickenpox and the small proportion of cases who seek medical attention'. It is not clear if they believe that passive surveillance is imprac...