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Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-
zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes varicella (chickenpox). Primary infection
with VZV causes varicella. Once the illness resolves, the virus remains latent in the
dorsal root ganglia.
The dorsal root ganglia lie in the intervertebral foramina. The intervertebral foramen
(also called neural foramen, ) is a foramen between two spinal vertebrae.
Shingles itself is not contagious. It can't spread from one person to another.
Most cases of shingles last three to five weeks. The first sign is often burning or tingling
pain; sometimes it includes numbness or itching on one side of the body. Somewhere
between one and five days after the tingling or burning feeling on the skin, a red rash
will appear.
Some individuals develop shingles after several decades because of virus reactivation.
It is caused by decline of cellular immune response.
Up to one third of infected individuals will clinically reactivate VZV in their lifetimes,
usually in their elderly years when immunity is naturally senescing, or when immunity is
suppressed by disease or iatrogenic cause.
Mode of transmission
A person is not infectious before the blisters appear or after the rash has crusted over.
For disseminated zoster, transmission occurs through airborne and droplet
transmission, in addition to contact with fluid in the blisters of the rash. Disseminated
zoster is likely as infectious as varicella.
Drugs of choice
Herpes zoster is usually treated with orally administered acyclovir. Other antiviral
medications include famciclovir and valacyclovir.
Generally, to sum up this herpes simplex virus and herpes zoster virus
Oral herpes is caused by herpes simplex 1 and Genital herpes is caused by herpes
simplex 2. Mode of transmission: oral secretions and sores in the skin thru kissing or
sharing object. It is important to know that both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be spread even
if sores are not present. The condition we call shingles is caused by herpes zoster.
Mode of transmission: we have the disseminated zoster virus thru airborne and droplet
transmission also can be with contact with fluid in the blisters of the rash Herpes zoster
is the same viral infection that causes chicken pox, and the herpes zoster virus can live
in the body for years after the case of chicken pox is gone and re-emerge as the painful
blisters of shingles.
Everyone through age 26 years should get HPV vaccine if they were not fully
vaccinated already. HPV vaccination is not recommended for everyone older than age
26 years.