herpes zoster oticus

herpes /her·pes/ (her´pēz) any inflammatory skin disease marked by the formation of small vesicles in clusters; the term is usually restricted to such diseases caused by herpesviruses and is used alone to refer to h. simplex or to h. zoster.

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herpes febri´lis  see h. simplex.

genital herpes , herpes genita´lis herpes simplex due to type 2 virus, primarily transmitted sexually via genital secretions and involving the genital region; in women, the vesicular stage may give rise to confluent, painful ulcerations and may be accompanied by neurologic symptoms.

herpes gestatio´nis  a variant of dermatitis herpetiformis peculiar to pregnant women, and clearing upon termination of pregnancy.

herpes labia´lis  h. febrilis affecting the vermilion border of the lips.

herpes progenita´lis  genital h.

herpes sim´plex  an acute viral disease, caused by human herpesviruses 1 and 2, marked by groups of vesicles on the skin, often on the borders of the lips or nares (cold sores), or on the genitals (genital h.); it often accompanies fever (fever blisters, h. febrilis) .

herpes zos´ter  shingles; an acute, unilateral, self-limited inflammatory disease of cerebral ganglia and the ganglia of posterior nerve roots and peripheral nerves in a segmented distribution, believed to represent activation of latent human herpesvirus 3 in those who have been rendered partially immune after a previous attack of chickenpox, and characterized by groups of small vesicles in the cutaneous areas along the course of affected nerves, and associated with neuralgic pain.

herpes zos´ter ophthal´micus  herpes zoster involving the ophthalmic nerve, with a vesicular erythematous rash along the nerve path (forehead, eyelid, and cornea) preceded by lancinating pain; there is iridocyclitis, and corneal involvement may lead to keratitis and corneal anesthesia.

herpes zos´ter o´ticus  Ramsay Hunt syndrome (1).

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herpes zoster oticus,

a herpes zoster infection of the eighth cervical (vestibulocochlear) nerve ganglia and geniculate ganglion, causing severe pain in the external ear structures and pain or paralysis along the facial nerve. The disease also may cause hearing loss and vertigo. The vertigo is usually transient, but the hearing loss and facial paralysis may be permanent. Vesicular eruptions may occur along the external ear canal and ear pinna. Treatment is generally symptomatic, with diazepam administered for vertigo, analgesics for pain, and corticosteroids for other symptoms. Acyclovir may be prescribed.