Herpes zoster/ varicella (HHV-3)

Chickenpox

Lesions in different stages of healing

(remains latent in dorsal root ganglia)

reactivation occurs with stress, aging, or immunocompromised state

other presentations:

Headache, fever, pneumonia, encephalitis

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus (HZO) => vision loss possible if CN V1 affected

• Hutchinson's sign: rash on the tip or side of the nose. Indicates nasociliary involvement and is a strong risk factor for ocular involvement

Complications

1. Post Herpetic Neuralgia

2. Ocular Involvement

3. Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

4. Disseminated Zoster

5. Secondary Bacterial Infection

In Ramsay Hunt syndrome, zoster affects the geniculate ganglion of the sensory branch

of the facial nerve. Vesicles and pain appear on the external auditory canal, and

patients lose their sense of taste in the anterior 2/3 of the tongue. At the same time, they

develop ipsilateral facial palsy.