Abstract
Background: Herpes zoster represents reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus in the sensory ganglia and forms a small subset of patients attending skin OPD. The study was conducted in Herpes zoster patients to find out the dermato-epidemiological profile and HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) seropositivity among these cases.
Methods: Three hundred and sixty consecutive cases of Herpes zoster were recruited in the descriptive study over the period of three years. The diagnosis was based on the history and clinical examination. HIV screening was done by ELISA method in all the cases.
Results: The most common prodromal symptom was paresthesia seen in 22.5% followed by tingling in 17.5% of the cases. Most common presenting complaint was pain in 92.22% followed by localized itching in 6.12% of the patients. Classical herpes zoster were observed in 96-66% and necrotic/ulcerated and hemorrhagic lesions were seen in 3.34% cases only. Thoracic dermatome was the most frequently involved dermatome seen in 74.44% of the patients. Unidermatomal and multidermatomal involvement were noticed in 55.83% and 44.17% of the patients respectively. The seropositivity for HIV were found in 3.05% cases
Conclusion: Herpes zoster is a common cause of morbidity in younger population with commonest prodromal symptom of paresthesia and presenting symptom of pain. Though, unidermatomal involvement was more common, incidence of multidermatomal involvement was recorded much higher than earlier studies. HIV seropositivity has been recorded lower than reported incidence in the earlier studies.
Keywords: Herpes zoster; Dermatomes; seropositivity.
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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i5.152
