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| Fig. 25.4 Grouped vesicles on an erythematous base in a dermatomal distribution. (Courtesy of the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center teaching files.) |
Herpes zoster, or “shingles,” is the recurrent form of infection with VZV and represents reactivation of the latent virus in the sensory ganglia. The cutaneous eruption consists of painful and/or pruritic vesicles, which tend to follow a unilateral, dermatomal distribution (Fig. 25-4). Prodromal pain may often precede the development of visible lesions. The entire course is usually 2 to 3 weeks in duration. The most common area of involvement for herpes zoster is the trunk (dermatomes innervated by the thoracic nerves), followed by the head (first branch of the trigeminal nerve). Herpes zoster is most typically seen in older and/or immunocompromised individuals.
Whitley RJ: A 70-year-old woman with shingles: review of herpes zoster,
JAMA 302:73–80, 2009.
