Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 Sep-Oct;56(5):529-32.
doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.87148.

Herpes zoster: a clinical study in 205 patients

E N Abdul Latheef  1 , K Pavithran
Affiliations

Herpes zoster: a clinical study in 205 patients

E N Abdul Latheef et al. Indian J Dermatol. 2011 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Background: Even though herpes zoster is a common condition its incidence and pattern of occurrence in the era of HIV disease is significant.

Aim: To analyze the incidence, pattern of occurrence and evolution of herpes zoster with special attention to provocative factors if any.

Materials and method: This was an analytical study conducted for 2 years based on a preformed proforma containing preliminary information, a detailed clinical evaluation regarding the segment of involvement, morphology, pattern of lesions, complications, disseminations etc. and investigations to establish provocative factors if any.

Results: Incidence of herpes zoster was mainly in the fourth and third decades of life. A definite history of chicken pox was present in only 63.4% cases. In the majority (70%) herpes zoster occurred spontaneously. In 30% cases, immunosuppression due to chemotherapy, malignancy, HIV infection, diabetes mellitus were observed. The commonest segment affected was thoracic (42.4%) followed by cranial (28.2%) and cervical (12.1%). Majority resolved in 7-14 days except immunosuppressed. 34.6% of the patients had complications such as secondary bacterial infection, post herpetic neuralgia, and motor weakness. Ten patients had HIV infection as a provocative factor.

Conclusion: The results of incidence and clinical pattern of herpes zoster is almost parallel to the previous studies. Any factors of immunosuppression should be checked, especially HIV, particularly in disseminated and long-lasting cases.

Keywords: Clinical study; herpes zoster; immunosuppression.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Nil.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Extensive Herpes zoster in an HIV patient
Figure 2
Figure 2
Disseminated herpes zoster in an HIV patient
Figure 3
Figure 3
Herpes zoster of the thoracic segment
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Pavithran K. A clinical study of five hundred cases of herpes zoster. Antiseptic. 1986;83:682–5.
    1. Peeneys N. Diseases caused by viruses. In: Elder D, editor. Lever's Histopathology of the skin. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott – Raven; 1997. pp. 569–89.
    1. Whitley RJ. Varicella zoster virus. In: Mandell GL, Bennet JE, Dolin R, editors. Principles and practice of infectious diseases. 4th ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone; 1995. pp. 1345–51.
    1. Schacker T, Corey L. Herpes virus infections in HIV infected person. In: Devita VT, Hailman Samuel, Lisenberg SA, editors. Textbook of AIDS. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott – Raven; 1997. pp. 267–80.
    1. Smith KJ, Skelton HG, Yeager J. Cutaneous findings in HIV - 1 positive patients: A 42 - months’ prospective study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994;3:746–54. - PubMed