Herpes Zoster infection: Report of three cases with review of literature

The Varicella Zoster virus, analpha virus can present in two distinct forms. The primary infection, chicken pox or varicella, is a contagious but usually benign illness that occurs in epidemics among the susceptible children. After the initial infection, the virus remains dormant until there is a reactivation, leading to the secondary form of disease called Herpes Zoster. Herpes Zoster (HZ) is a disease that falls within the diagnostic domain of dentists and dental specialists. During the prodromal stage of this disease, the only presenting symptom may be odontalgia; which may pose a diagnostic challenge to the clinician. With an increasing number of elderly and immunocompromised patients attending the dentist, the dental professional can expect to encounter an increasing number of HZ patients. Thus, the clinician must be familiar with the various stages of HZ. This article presents three classical cases of HZ and a detailed review of literature.