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.
herpes zoster
herpes zoster (herˑ·pēz z
sˑ·ter),
herpes zoster (hur´pēz zos´tur),
herpes zoster
Patient discussion about herpes zoster.
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).
| herpes zoster n. See shingles. |
herpes zoster
[zos′tər]
Etymology: Gk, herpein + zoster, girdle
an acute infection caused by reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus, which mainly affects adults. The cause of reactivation is unknown, but it is linked to stress, aging, and immune impairment. It is characterized by the development of painful vesicular skin eruptions that follow the underlying route of cranial or spinal nerves inflamed by the virus. Prompt treatment with antivirals can speed healing and reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia. Also called shingles. See also herpes simplex, varicella zoster virus.
herpes zoster (herˑ·pēz z
sˑ·ter),n infection that tends to afflict adults caused by activation of the latent varicella zoster virus along a nerve pathway. Symptoms include painful blisters and red skin eruptions that are responsive to antiviral medications if taken early. Also called
shingles.
shingles.
)
Herpes zoster.
herpes zoster (hur´pēz zos´tur),
n an acute viral disease involving the dorsal spinal root or cranial nerve and producing unilateral vesicular eruption in areas of the skin corresponding to the involved sensory nerve. Pain is a prominent feature and may persist, although skin lesions subside in 1 to 2 weeks. It is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is also responsible for childhood chickenpox. A vaccine against herpes zoster is now available. Colloquial term: shingles.
)
Herpes zoster.
herpes zoster
A viral infection of the posterior root ganglia of the spinal cord due to a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (also called chickenpox virus) which had remained latent. It is characterized by a circumscribed vesicular eruption of the skin and neuralgic pain in the areas supplied by the sensory nerves. This is due to the migration of the virus from the affected ganglia to the sensory nerves. Ocular manifestations include iritis, keratitis, scleritis, uveitis, and retinal necrosis. Syn. shingles.
herpes zoster
Human herpesvirus-3, shingles, zoster Neurology A peripheral manifestation of reactivated HHV3, which affects 300,000 people/yr–US primarily, elderly, immunocompromised Pts Clinical Severe sharp radicular pain, varicellar
vesicular rash along dermatomes, itching dysesthesia; HZ in immunocompetent Pts causes large-vessel granulomatous arteritis, in immunocompromised Pts, small vessel encephalitis, myelitis, postherpetic neuralgia Management Analgesics–eg,
acetaminophen, codeine; acyclovir or famciclovir ↓ new vesicles, ↓ acute pain. See Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, Varicella-zoster virus.
Patient discussion about herpes zoster.
Q. Is chicken pox dangerous to my fetus? I am pregnant and have never had chicken pox before. My daughter is 2 years old and has not had chicken pox before and hasn't been vaccinated against it either. If she does catch chicken pox can this be dangerous to me or the fetus?
A. If a pregnant woman who hasn't had chickenpox in the past contracts it (especially in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy), the fetus is at risk for birth defects and she is at risk for more health complications than if she'd been infected when she wasn't pregnant. If she develops chickenpox just before or after the child is born, the newborn is at risk for serious health complications. Therefore, it is advised that you vaccinate your daughter against chicken pox so she will not catch it and then could not pass it on to you.
Q. what is shingles?
A. Shingles is a skin rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus responsible for these conditions is called the Varicella zoster virus (VZV). After an individual has chickenpox, this virus lives in the nervous system and is never fully cleared from the body. Under certain circumstances, such as emotional stress, immune deficiency (from AIDS or chemotherapy), or with cancer, the virus reactivates causing shingles. In most cases, however, a cause for the reactivation of the virus is never found. Anyone who has ever had chickenpox is at risk for the development of shingles, although it occurs most commonly in people over the age of 60. The herpes virus that causes shingles and chickenpox is not the same as the herpes virus that causes genital herpes (which can be sexually transmitted) and herpes mouth sores. Shingles is medically termed Herpes zoster.
http://www.medicinenet.com/shingles/article.htm
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Read more or ask a question about herpes zosterhttp://www.medicinenet.com/shingles/article.htm
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