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Herpes Zoster Infection: Report of A Treated Case
Herpes Zoster Infection: Report of A Treated Case
191]
Case Report
Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University | November-December 2015 | Vol 8 | Issue 6 769
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improve oral hygiene, and topical lidocaine was prescribed membrane in the area supplied by the affected nerve.[1] The
for painful skin lesions. The patient was regularly reviewed. nerves most commonly affected in HZ are C3, T5, L1, L2 and
1st branch of the trigeminal nerve.[5] The incidence of HZ
On examination of the patient after 10 days, there increases with age and in immunocompromised patients.
was complete regression of the lesion extraorally with The predisposing factors for reactivation of the virus are
encrustations and intraorally with hypopigmented areas trauma, benign or malignant tumor involving the dorsal
respectively [Figures 3 and 4]. No fresh vesicles were root ganglia, local X-ray irradiations and immunosuppressive
found. Patient was asked to taper the dose of corticosteroids therapy and immunosenescence.[6]
gradually, and finally, the medications were stopped.
In our case, based on the history, the predisposing factor was
found to be malnutrition with physical and psychological
Discussion
stress secondary to the economic status and poverty. Patient
Herpes zoster is an acute infectious viral disease, and it is with HZ may progress through 3-stages,[7]
a sporadic disease with an estimated life time incidence a. Prodromal stage,
of 10-20%, 15 times higher in HIV-infected than in b. Active or acute stage,
uninfected patients and 25% of patients with Hodgkin’s c. Chronic stage.
lymphoma develop HZ. Household transmission rates were
approximately. 15%.[4] HZ is characterized by inflammation of The prodromal stage presents as sensations like burning,
dorsal root ganglia or extra-medullary cranial nerve ganglia, tingling, itching, pricking and boring occurring in the
associated with vesicular eruptions of the skin or oral mucous cutaneous distribution of the dermatome and is believed
to represent viral degeneration of nerve fibrils.[8] If the
770 Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University | November-December 2015 | Vol 8 | Issue 6
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trigeminal nerve is affected in this period odontalgia may recommended for the following susceptible adults (without
occur. The symptoms of the prodromal stage may present a reliable history of chickenpox or a serologic test indicating
up to 1-month or for more duration before the acute immunity): Health care workers, those with close contact
mucocutaneous lesions appear, posing diagnostic difficulties to immunocompromised individuals or young children, and
to the clinician. This is known as zoster-sine herpetic or women who could become pregnant.[9]
zoster-sine eruption.[8]
Conclusion
The active stage is characterized by the emergence of the
skin rash that may be accompanied by headache, malaise Herpes zoster infection leads to various complications if
and low-grade fever. The rash progresses from erythematous left untreated, oral physicians should have a thorough
and edematous papules to vesicles and finally results in knowledge of this disease will help in early diagnosis,
the formation of pustules within 1-week which is the treatment and prevention of the complications having an
contagious period. The pustules begin to dry with crust edge on the regular updated treatment strategies in HZ.
formations, which will be exfoliated over 2-3 weeks, leaving
erythematous macular lesions that result in scar formation.[8] Declaration of patient consent
During this phase, the HZ is most contagious and could pose The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate
a significant cross-infection risk. patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have
given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and
The chronic pain syndrome stage is seen in approximately other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The
10% of all patients with HZ and is termed as PHN. PHN patients understand that their names and initials will not
is defined as a brief, recurrent, shooting, deep pain lasting be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their
1-3 months after the healing of the muco-cutaneous identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
lesions.[8] Risk of occurrence of PHN increases significantly
after the age of 60 years, which may be due to a decline in References
cell-mediated immunity.[8]
1. Mehta DN, Thakkar B, Asrani M. Herpes Zoster of orofacial
region — A review. Natl J Integr Res Med 2013;4:112-6.
The most common complication of HZ is PHN, but the
2. Arduino PG, Porter SR. Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 infection:
other complications like neurologic components such Overview on relevant clinico-pathological features. J Oral Pathol
as Guillian — Barre syndrome, encephalitis, myelitis, Med 2008;37:107-21.
Ramsay-Hunt syndrome and ocular complications 3. Roxas M. Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia: Diagnosis
such as conjunctivitis, optic neuritis, corneal scarring and therapeutic considerations. Altern Med Rev 2006;11:102-13.
or HZ opthalmicus and acute retinal necrosis. The oral 4. Deshmukh R, Raut A, Sonone S, Pawar S, Bharude N, Umarkar A,
complications are periapical lesions, root resorption, tooth et al. Herpes Zoster (Hz): A fatal viral disease: A comperhensive
review. Int J Pharm Chem Biol Sci 2012;2: 138-145.
exfoliation and alveolar osteonecrosis.[3,4]
5. Srikrishna K, Prabhat MP, Balmuri PK, Sudhakar S, Ramaraju D.
Herpes Zoster: Report of a treated case with review of literature.
The addition of steroids to an antiviral regimen has not been J Indian Acad Oral Med Radiol 2012;24:51-5.
proven to prevent PHN, but should be considered in patients 6. Thomas SL, Hall AJ. What does epidemiology tell us about risk
with severe pain in order to reduce the duration of acute factors for herpes zoster? Lancet Infect Dis 2004;4:26-33.
symptoms. Patients with HZ can transmit VZV to others 7. Opstelten W, van Loon AM, Schuller M, van Wijck AJ,
through direct contact with draining skin lesions. Only van Essen GA, Moons KG, et al. Clinical diagnosis of herpes
zoster in family practice. Ann Fam Med 2007;5:305-9.
people who have never had chickenpox are at risk, and the
8. Weinberg JM. Herpes zoster: Epidemiology, natural history, and
resulting illness is primary varicella infection (chickenpox). common complications. J Am Acad Dermatol 2007;57:S130-5.
Shaikh S, Ta CN. Evaluation and management of herpes zoster
Current treatment regimens directed against the prevention ophthalmicus. Am Fam Physician 2002;66:1723-30.
and control of the HZ and PHN includes the development 9. Schmader KE, Levin MJ, Gnann JW Jr, McNeil SA, Vesikari T,
of live attenuated vaccine against VZV, HZ vaccine Betts RF, et al. Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of herpes
zoster vaccine in persons aged 50-59 years. Clin Infect Dis
(Zostavax®, Merck) was developed which was approved for
2012;54:922-8.
use in Canada in 2008, which was going to be released into
the market probably in 2015. It is contraindicated during How to cite this article: Maloth KN, Reddy KV, Kodangal S,
pregnancy and is currently not recommended in HIV- Sunitha K, Meka N. Herpes zoster infection: Report of a treated case.
infected individuals, although its safety in this population Med J DY Patil Univ 2015;8:769-71.
is under evaluation. Vaccination against VZV is currently Source of Support: Nil. Conflicts of interest: None declared.
Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University | November-December 2015 | Vol 8 | Issue 6 771