Primary varicella-zoster virus infection in children with haematological malignancy is a life threatening disease. In one year, there were 10 cases of varicella and 2 cases of zoster among these children as well as 5 mothers who were accompanying their children who developed varicella in the oncology ward. Two children died of fulminating disease despite aggressive antiviral and supportive trea...

Although varicella zoster virus latency has been demonstrated in several sensory ganglia, herpes zoster usually effects only one single, either left or right, dermatome in half of the body. In immunocompromised patients, more than one contiguous unilateral dermatome may be involved. Bilateral non-contiguous herpes zoster, also termed herpes zoster duplex, is rarely reported. Chronic varicella z...

CLE: cutaneous lupus erythematosus HZ: herpes zoster SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus TLE: tumid lupus erythematosus VZV: varicella zoster virus INTRODUCTION Topical corticosteroids are commonly used in the treatment of a wide range of skin manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patients with SLE are also known to have an increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ). Here we present a r...

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 ...

: The reactivated form of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is responsible for chickenpox, known as herpes zoster (HZ). Although it a self-limiting infection, presents debilitating and painful mucosal dermal vesicular eruptions. Early identification management are vital to curbing spread HZ infection. In this extensive review, we present an overview HZ, including its structure, pathophysiology, ...

BACKGROUND Whether exogenous exposure to varicella-zoster-virus protects individuals with latent varicella-zoster virus infection against herpes zoster by boosting immunity is not known. To test the hypothesis that contacts with children increase exposure to varicella-zoster virus and protect latently infected adults against zoster, we did a case-control study in south London, UK. METHODS Fro...

The authors describe an acyclovir-resistant varicella zoster virus infection in a pediatric patient after hematopoietic stem cell transplant, the use of foscarnet as salvage therapy, and review the literature to clarify the pediatric experience with foscarnet in this setting. A novel thymidine kinase mutation is described, along with a new phenotypic assay for characterizing acyclovir resistanc...

Definition Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), also known as Human Herpes Virus III (HHVIII), is a member of the herpes virus group. As all the other viruses from this group, VZV can manifests itself as a recurrent infection. After entering the body and causing primary infection, varicella-zoster virus remains latent in the neurons of sensory ganglion, especially dorsal roots of ganglion of the spina...

Primary infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox (varicella) after which virus becomes latent in cranial nerve, dorsal root and autonomic ganglia along the entire neuraxis. Virus may later reactivate, causing shingles (zoster), characterized by pain and rash restricted to 1-3 dermatomes. More than 40% of zoster patients over age 60 develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), pain...