Varicella-Zoster Virus: Atypical Presentations and Unusual Complications

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the etiologic agent of varicella (primary infection) and herpes zoster (reactivation of latent infection). Although varicella is most often a relatively benign and self-limited childhood illness, the disease can be associated with a variety of serious and potentially...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2002-10, Vol.186 (Supplement-1), p.S91-S98
Main Author: Gnann, John W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - immunology
AIDS
Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use
Antivirals
Biological and medical sciences
Chickenpox
Chickenpox - complications
Chickenpox - drug therapy
Chronic Disease
Encephalitis, Viral - etiology
Female
Hemiplegia - etiology
Herpes zoster
Herpes Zoster - complications
Herpes Zoster - drug therapy
Herpesvirus 3, Human
HIV Infections - immunology
Human herpesvirus 3
Human viral diseases
Humans
Immunocompromised Host
Infant, Newborn
Infections
Infectious diseases
Lesions
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Obstetric labor complications
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - etiology
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - prevention & control
Retinitis - etiology
Skin Diseases, Bacterial - etiology
Skin Diseases, Bacterial - microbiology
Streptococcal Infections - etiology
Streptococcal Infections - microbiology
Streptococcus pyogenes
Varicella zoster encephalitis
Varicella-Zoster Virus
Viral diseases
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Description
Summary:Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the etiologic agent of varicella (primary infection) and herpes zoster (reactivation of latent infection). Although varicella is most often a relatively benign and self-limited childhood illness, the disease can be associated with a variety of serious and potentially lethal complications in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons. One complication of varicella that appears to be increasing in frequency is serious bacterial soft tissue infections caused by group A streptococci. Issues related to management of varicella become especially complex when varicella involves pregnant women or susceptible neonates. Herpes zoster can be associated with a variety of neurologic complications, including a syndrome of delayed contralateral hemiparesis. Neurologic complications of herpes zoster, including chronic encephalitis, occur with increased frequency in AIDS patients. VZV retinitis is a potentially sight-threatening complication that occurs in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons. Current knowledge regarding pathogenesis and antiviral therapy is reviewed
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1086/342963