Herpes zoster is a viral disease that typically affects adults, most commonly between the age of 60 and 70. Rarely occurs in children. The disease is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus—the same virus that causes chickenpox.
It occurs due to reactivation of the latent virus in individuals who previously had chickenpox. People with chronic illnesses, malignancies, or weakened immune systems are at higher risk.
Herpes zoster usually lasts between two to six weeks and typically occurs only once in a lifetime. How
Before skin changes appear, patients often experience fatigue, tingling (paresthesia), neuralgic pain and a burning sensation in the skin. These symptoms may occasionally be accompanied by a mild fever.
A characteristic feature is redness in a specific area of skin corresponding to a nerve distribution. On these red areas, papules appear and quickly turn into vesicles, often accompanied by severe pain. The changes are usually unilateral, although they can occasionally be bilateral.
In severe cases (generalized zoster), especially in patients with malignancies, lesions may become hemorrhagic or gangrenous. A common complication is persistent pain after the skin lesions have healed, known as postherpetic neuralgia. When the trigeminal nerve is affected (facial area), complications such as conjunctivitis and keratitis may occur (zoster ophthalmicus). If the auditory nerve is involved, it is referred to as zoster oticus.
If you notice the above symptoms, a dermatological examination is necessary. Diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms.
Treatment includes antiviral medications (oral and topical), immune-supportive therapy and pain relief medications.
