Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the etiologic agent of varicella (primary infection) and herpes zoster (reactivation of latent infection). Although varicella is most often a relatively benign and self-limited childhood illness, the disease can be associated with a variety of serious and potentially lethal complications in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons. One complication of v...

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Herpes zoster is a cutaneous infection that is characterized by an acute vesicobullous rash with ipsilateral one or two dermatomal distribution and painful allodynia, while predominantly being found in the elderly. Extensive cutaneous dissemination has been reported in immune-compromised patients, such as those who suffer from HIV infections, cancer, chemotherapy, and corticosteroid therapy pat...

Herpes zoster-associated urinary retention is an uncommon event related to virus infection of the S2-S4 dermatome. The possible major reasons are ipsilateral hemicystitis, neuritis-induced or myelitis-associated virus infection. We report a case of a 65-year-old immunocompetent female patient who presented an acute urinary retention after four days under treatment with valacyclovir for gluteal ...

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a ubiquitous human alphaherpesvirus that causes varicella (chicken pox) and herpes zoster (shingles). Varicella is a common childhood illness, characterized by fever, viremia, and scattered vesicular lesions of the skin. As is characteristic of the alphaherpesviruses, VZV establishes latency in cells of the dorsal root ganglia. Herpes zoster, caused by VZV reacti...

A case of Herpes zoster of the mandibular nerve in an 80 year old man is reported. Herpes zoster infection affecting only the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve is rare. It is proposed that the distribution of lesions is a consequence of a unique latent site of the virus within neurons of the gasserian ganglion innervating the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve.

Introduction Herpes zoster is a neuroectodermal viral infection which afflicts one or more closely grouped, spinal or cranial nerves, resulting in unilateral radicular pain and vesicular eruption limited to a dermatome innervated by that nerve [1]. Bilateral involvement is rare, bilaterally symmetrical involvement is extremely rare. We hereby report a case of bilaterally symmetrical herpes zost...

Herpes zoster is a sporadic disease that results from the reactivation of latent Varicella zoster virus infection (VZV) from the dorsal root ganglion. We report a case of herpes zoste of lumbosacral region presenting as acute retention of urine and constipation, an uncommon presentation.

Herpes zoster or shingles is an acute vesico-bullous cutaneous infection characterized by dermatomal distribution, predominantly in adults. Extensive cutaneous dissemination has been reported in immunocompromised patients. However, its existence is documented in immunocompetent individuals as well. We report two children with disseminated herpes zoster, one of whom was immunocompromised seconda...

St. Mary’s Hospital, Division of Infectious Diseases, Waterbury, Connecticut, USA. Received for publication: August 13, 2011. Reprint request: Birinder S. Singh, M.D., St. Mary’s Hospital, Division of Infectious Diseases, Waterbury, Connecticut, USA. INTRODUCTION Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a ubiquitous human virus that belongs to the subfamily alphaherpesvirinae.1 It contains the smallest ...