Viro Perspectives
Learn more on the topic of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) via our ongoing series of clinical posts by David Kilpatrick, PhD and Abbas Vafai, PhD.
INTRODUCTION: Surprisingly, much of the general public do not know one of the human Herpesviruses, varicellazoster virus (VZV), causes chickenpox, and results in a life-long infection. VZV can re-activate after decades of being dormant in sensory nerve ganglia (usually in those over 60 years of age) to cause shingles infection.
INTRODUCTION: Herpes zoster (HZ) reactivation is characterized as a vascular rash of unilateral distribution that can also cause complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia, ophthalmic zoster, and other neurological diseases. Emerging epidemiological and clinical data recognizes an association between HZ and subsequent acute strokes and myocardial infarction (MI).