[Varicella Zoster infections in adults: beyond shingles?]

Abstract

Chickenpox is a generally benign condition during childhood, but it can cause severe complications when affecting teenage or adult patients. Immunodeficiency and pregnancy are risk factors for disseminated disease with pulmonary, neurological and/or hepatic involvement. Reinfection may be more frequent than previously thought, and management is identical to that of primary infection. The most common manifestation of viral reactivation is shingles, but it can also cause meningitis and vasculopathy, as well as disseminated herpes zoster in the immunocompromised patient. In this article, we will review the clinical manifestations and management of VZV infection in adults.