Herpes zoster virus

Tinea pedis is a fungal infection commonly known as athlete s foot. Chickenpox is a childhood infection caused by the herpes zoster virus. Hepatitis is a viral infection of the liver. Mumps is a viral infection characterised by bilateral or unilateral inflammation of the salivary glands. Rubella (German measles) is caused by the rubella virus. 

Liesegang TJ. Herpes zoster virus infection. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2004 15 531-536. 

Viral infections contracted during steroid therapy can be overwhelming because the immune response of the body may be largely suppressed. This is particularly relevant to immunosuppressed patients exposed to varicella/herpes zoster virus, which may cause fulminant illness they may need passive protection with varicella/zoster immimoglobulin, VZIG, as soon as practicable. Continuous use of prednisolone 20 mg/day (or the equivalent) is immunosuppressive. But a corticosteroid may sometimes be useful in therapy after the disease has begun (thyroiditis, encephalitis) and there has been time for the immune response to occur. It then acts by suppressing unwanted effects of immime responses and excessive inflammatory reaction. 

Anecdotal reports have attributed aggravation of polymyositis (7) and generalized Herpes zoster virus infection to inosine pranobex (8). 

Fluoroidoaracystosine (FIAC, Fig. 7-16) is a potent and selective inhibitor of herpes viruses. Like acyclovir and BVDU, it, too, must be phosphorylated by viral thymidine kinase to act. Its selectivity toward the viral enzyme is several thousand times higher so that it is active against HSV-1 and -2 and herpes zoster virus (HZV) with a good therapeutic index. Clinical studies seem promising. 

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 Varicella-zoster virus (herpes zoster virus)... 

Vidarabine is used mainly in human HSV-1 and HSV-2 encephalitis, decreasing the mortality rate from 70 to 30%. Whitley et al. (57) reported that early vidarabine therapy is helpful in controlling complications of localized or disseminated herpes zoster in immunocompromised patients. Vidarabine also is useful in neonatal herpes labialis or genitalis, vaccinia virus, adenovirus, RNA viruses, papovavirus, CMV, and smallpox virus infections. Given the efficacy of vidarabine in certain viral infections, the U.S. FDA approved a 3% ointment for the treatment of herpes simplex keratoconjunctivitis and recurrent epithelial keratitis, and a 2% IV injection for the treatment of herpes simplex encephalitis and herpes zoster infections (Table 43.3). A topical ophthalmic preparation of vidarabine is useful in herpes simplex keratitis but shows little promise in herpes simplex labialis or genitalis. The monophosphate esters of vidarabine are more water-soluble and can be used in smaller volumes and even intramuscularly. These esters are under clinical investigation for the treatment of hepatitis B, systemic and cutaneous herpes simplex, and herpes zoster virus infections in immunocompromised patients. 

HZV vaccine Herpes zoster virus vaccine IPV Inactivated polio vaccine JE vaccine Japanese encephalitis vaccine MCV4 Meningococcal conjugate vaccine, 4-valent... 

Herpes zoster virus vaccine Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio Immimoglobulin (A, E, M)... 

Herpes zoster (shingles) is caused by the varicella (chickenpox) virus. It is highly contagious. The virus causes chickenpox in the child and is easily spread via the respiratory system. Recovery from childhood chickenpox results in the infection lying dormant in the nerve cells. The virus may become reactivated later in life as the older adult s immune system... 

Viruses are a common cause of CAP in children (-65%) and much less common in adults ( 15%).8 Viruses often associated with pneumonia in adults include influenza A and B and adenoviruses, whereas less common causes include rhinoviruses, enteroviruses, cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster virus, herpes simplex virus, and others. In children, viral pneumonia is caused more commonly by respiratory syncyntial virus, influenza A virus, and parainfluenza virus. The viruses associated with CAP in adults are much less common causes of pneumonia in children. 

Later in life, approximately 15% of the population will develop herpes zoster. Herpes zoster is the reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus in the sensory ganglia. Approximately 20% of persons with herpes zoster will develop post-herpetic neuralgia, which is a painful debilitating condition that can persist for months after resolution of the herpes zoster rash. 

The answer is c. (Katzung, pp 827-828J Famciclovir is active against herpes simplex and varicella zoster viruses. It is activated by a viral kinase to a triphosphate. The triphosphate is a competitive substrate for DNA polymerase The incorporation of the famciclovir triphosphate into viral DNA results in chain termination. 

Minson, A. C., Alphaherpesviruses herpes simplex and varicella zoster virus infection, In Topley and Wilson s Microbiology And Microbial Infections, 9th edn. Mahy, B. Collier, L., Eds. Arnold, London, 1998, Vol. 1, 325 339... 

Herpes simplex vaccine, 25 498-499 Herpes simplex viruses, 3 136 Herpesviruses, 3 136 Herpes zoster vaccine, 25 496-497 Herschel-Bulkley model, 21 705 Herschel effect, 19 204 Herz compounds, 23 643... 

M.J. Espy, J.R. Uhl, L.M. Sloan, J.E. Rosenblatt, F.R. Cockerill and T.F. Smith, Detection of Vaccinia virus, Herpes Simplex virus, Varicella-Zoster... 

Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Zostavax is a live attenuated varicella-zoster virus (VZV) vaccine for the prevention of herpes zoster in individuals 60 years or older. It is supplied in frozen lyophilized form and reconstituted before vaccination. The vaccine boosts VZV-specific immunity and protects individuals against zosters and its complications. 

Chickenpox is caused by the virus herpes zoster, which could be contracted from patients with shingles but not vice versa. Calamine lotion or oral sedative... 

Shingles herpes zoster, infection due to the re-activation of the latent varicella zoster virus Status epilepticus occurrence of continuous seizures Striae scars in the skin... 

The salts of heterylbiguanides are generally active 8) against viruses, and are of unusually low toxicity. They appear to be useful against influenza, herpes zoster, smallpox, Newcastle disease and canine distemper. Xylylbiguanides are also active (7/2) against influenza, and isopropylbiguanide hydrochloride inhibits Lee influenza virus in chick embryos [740). 

The 9-alkoxyguanine 998 has potent and selective antiherpes virus activity. The racemic guanine derivative 1003 showed potent and selective activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, but was less active against varicella zoster virus (VZV). Its antiviral activity is attributable to the S... 

Pharmacology Ganciclovir, a synthetic guanine derivative active against CMV, is an acyclic nucleoside analog of 2 -deoxyguanosine that inhibits replication of herpes viruses both in vitro and in vivo. Sensitive human viruses include CMV, herpes simplex virus (HSV)-I and -2, herpes virus type 6, Epstein-Barr virus, varicella-zoster virus, and hepatitis B virus. 

Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection Treatment of neonatal herpes infections. Parenteral Treatment of initial and recurrent mucosal and cutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV)-I and -2 and varicella-zoster virus (VZV/shingles) infections in immunocompromised patients. 

Pharmacology Valacyclovir is the hydrochloride salt of L-valyl ester of the antiviral drug acyclovir. Valacyclovir is rapidly converted to acyclovir, which has in vitro and in vivo inhibitory activity against herpes simplex virus types I (HSV-1) and II (HSV-2), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). In cell culture, acyclovir has the highest antiviral activity against HSV-1, followed by (in decreasing order of potency) HSV-2 and VZV. In vitro, acyclovir triphosphate stops replication of herpes viral DMA in 3 ways 1) Competitive inhibition of viral DMA polymerase 2) incorporation and termination of... 

WraZ/nfecf/on. Treatment with tacrolimus ointment may be associated with an increased risk of varicella zoster virus infection (chicken pox or shingles), herpes simplex virus infection, or eczema herpeticum. 

Polyspecific Response Associated with CNS Autoimmune Diseases. The oligoclonal, intrathecally synthesized IgG contains numerous specific antibodies and autoantibodies. Antibodies are frequently found with specificities against measles, the rubella virus and the varicella-zoster virus, but seldom against the herpes simplex virus. The occurrence of one, two, or three of these antibodies is referred to as the MRZ reaction. The corresponding antigens are not present in these cases. The MRZ reaction is typical of multiple sclerosis as well as cerebral lupus erythematosus and is a chronically evolving immune process (F5, KIO, S16). 

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