Saturday, July 24, 2010

PCL 2- Definition of shingles

Definition

-Herpes zoster

-neurocutaneous disease

-reactivation of herpes zoster virus

-(varicella-zoster virus (VZV), HHV-3, or chickenpox virus)

-latent infection of dorsal sensory or cranial nerve ganglia

-many years after a childhood chickenpox infection

Characteristics

-pain in the involved dermatome- (the area that a single sensory nerve supplies in the skin)

-occupy part or all of the dermatome.

-pain can be mild or intense. mostly itching, some feel pain from the gentlest touch or breeze.(like in Ms Lim in this case)

-thoracic and lumbar dermatomes

-followed by the outbreak of a maculopapular rash that quickly progresses to a vesicular rash

-The course of the disease is usually around 2 weeks, but it may persist for a full month

-Usually affects adults



ok guys this is just a short intro..later i will post up on treatment and management

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