КЛИНИЧКО-ЦИТОПАТОЛОШКЕ ОСОБИНЕ ХЕРПЕСА ЗОСТЕРА

Sažetak

Varicella zoster virus is a highly infectious α-herpesvirus, pathogenic only to humans. The primary infection of varicella zoster virus causes chickenpox, which is contagious and primarily infects children and adolescents in India. Following the primary infection, the virus remains dormant in sensory root ganglia. Activation of the dormant virus in later stages of life causes herpes zoster infection which may vary from subclinical infection to typical zoster, scattered vesicles, zoster sine herpete or disseminated zoster with regard to the individual’s immune status. In this case series, we present two patients with herpes zoster involving the mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve. Cytology revealed characteristic features of the infection including nuclear moulding, multinucleate giant cells and ballooning degeneration. More recently, patients presenting with herpes zoster were reported to have sub-clinical Covid-19 infection, suggesting a possibility that herpes zoster might be an indicator for latent Covid-19. Timely detection and treatment of this infection can reduce the risk of post herpetic neuralgia.