Herpes Zoster

Definition

Herpes zoster are also known as shingles and it is an acute unilateral and segmental inflammation of the dorsal root ganglia. It produces localized vesicular skin lesions confined to a dennatome. If you have shingles disease, then it you may have severe neuralgic pain in the areas bordering the inflamed nerve root ganglia. It may be occurs only in someone who has had a previous infection of chickenpox, usually as a child. It is found primarily in adults over age 50. Herpes zoster may be occur in people who had chickenpox at a very young age than in those who contracted chickenpox in adulthood. It's also more severe in pregnant women than others of the same age. Because of the mild immunosuppression and other factors that are associated with pregnancy.

Causes of Herpes zoster

Herpes zoster is an infection that may be caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. The same herpesvirus that causes chickenpox, which lies dormant in the cerebral ganglia or the ganglia of posterior nerve roots. The cause for reactivation is unknown, but it's associated with increasing age, stress, illness or infection, and debilitation.

Symptoms of Herpes zoster

Herpes zoster has various symptoms such as:

• Fever
• Malaise
• Unilateral stabbing pain that mimics appendicitis
• Tingling
• Itching
• Pleurisy
• Musculoskeletal pain, or other conditions
• Deep pain
• Reddening of the skin that's followed by blisters
• Paresthesia or hyperesthesia

During examination of the patient within 2 weeks after her initial symptoms, you may observe small, red, nodular skin lesions spread unilaterally around the thorax or vertically over the arms or legs. Alternatively, instead of nodules, you may see vesicles filled with clear fluid or pus. About 7 to 10 days after they appear, these vesicles rupture and then dry, forming scabs.

With geniculate involvement, you may observe vesicle formation in the external auditory canal and ipsilateral facial palsy. The patient may complain of various symptoms such as:

• Hearing loss
• Dizziness
• Loss of taste

With trigeminal involvement, the patient may complain of eye pain. She may also have corneal and scleral damage and impaired vision.

Treatment of Herpes zoster

• In which early treatment for herpes zoster, it provides the best chance of minimizing neurologic sequelae. Primary therapeutic goals include relief of itching with cool compresses and antipruritics, relief of neuralgic pain with analgesics and preventing postherpetic neuralgia. A similar goal also involves preventing secondary infection by applying a demulcent and skin protectant to unbroken lesions.
• You can also use antiviral therapy within 2 to 3 days of onset usually provides early resolution of the skin blisters and shortens the duration of neurologic symptoms. In which Oral acyclovir therapy, it accelerates healing of lesions and resolution of oster associated pain.