Herpes

Herpes Zoster is the reactivation of varicella zoster virus infection. It usually presents as a painful vesicular eruption with a dermatomal distribution. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY The varicella virus lives inactive in the dorsal root / cranial nerve ganglia after primary infection. Reactivation of this virus causes replication of the virus in the neuronal bodies and are then carried along the axons to the skin dermatomes, causing the inflammatory eruptions. RISK FACTORS 1. Age (mostly seen in geriatric population) 2. Immunosuppressed state (pregnancy, HIV, malignancy) 3. Spinal surgery 4. Stress 5. ...