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Download as PDF; Printable version ... to diagnose shingles. The most popular test detects VZV ... that shingles was a more serious disease in adults than in children ...
A zoster vaccine is a vaccine that reduces the incidence of herpes zoster (shingles), a disease caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, which is also responsible for chickenpox. [8] Shingles provokes a painful rash with blisters, and can be followed by chronic pain ( postherpetic neuralgia ), as well as other complications.
It causes chickenpox (varicella) commonly affecting children and young adults, and shingles (herpes zoster) in adults but rarely in children. As a late complication of VZV infection, Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2 may develop in rare cases. VZV infections are species-specific to humans. The virus can survive in external environments for a few hours.
As there is an increased risk of shingles in adults due to possible lack of contact with chickenpox-infected children providing a natural boosting to immunity, and the fact that chickenpox is usually a mild illness, the NHS cites concerns about unvaccinated children catching chickenpox as adults when it is more dangerous. [49]
Shingles is prevented by immunizing against the causal virus, varicella zoster, using a zoster vaccine. Vaccination is recommended for adults 50 and older. Two versions of the vaccine are available, the live attenuated Zostavax (now discontinued in the US, essentially a larger-dose chickenpox vaccine) and the protein subunit Shingrix. [7]
More than 90% of adults have been infected with at least one of these, and a latent form of the virus remains in almost all humans who have been infected. [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] Other human herpesviruses are human herpesvirus 6A and 6B (HHV-6A and HHV-6B) and human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7), which are the etiological agents for Roseola , and HHV-8 ...
The testing takes several days to perform, and patients with suspected Herpes encephalitis should be treated with acyclovir immediately while waiting for test results. Atypical stroke-like presentation of HSV encephalitis has been described as well and the clinicians should be aware that HSV encephalitis can mimic a stroke.
Shingles affects one in five adults infected with chickenpox as children, especially those who are immune-suppressed, particularly from cancer, HIV, or other conditions. Stress can bring on shingles as well, although scientists are still researching the connection. [ 36 ]