How does varicella-zoster virus infection present in the HIV-positive patient? Primary infection with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV, chickenpox) in HIV disease may be associated with complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, hepatitis, profuse eruptions, and even death. Reactivation of latent VZV infection is increased in HIV disease. Reactivation usually manifests itself as a typical unidermatomal eruption, but with advanced immunodeficiency, multidermatomal and disseminated eruptions can occur. These eruptions may be vesiculobullous, hemorrhagic, necrotic, or poxlike and may be very painful. Chronic, painful verrucous and ecthymatous (poxlike) lesions can occur and appear as hyperkeratotic warty nodules and necrotic ulcerations, respectively. Weinburg JM, Mysliwiec A, Turiansky GW, et al: Viral folliculitis: atypical presentations of herpes simplex, herpes zoster, and molluscum contagiosum, Arch Dermatol 133:983–986, 1997. |
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