A CASE SERIES OF VARIABLE PRESENTATIONS OF HERPES ZOSTER IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED STATE

Introduction: Herpes zoster is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the VZV genome consists of about 125,000 base pairs of linear doublestranded DNA, and its nucleocapsid consists of 162 capsomers. The virus is highly cell-associated and only infects human cells, such as epithelial cells, T lymphocytes, and ganglionic neurons [1] which after initial infection, remains latent in posterior root ganglia of the human spinal cord and can be reactivated in the presence of multiple factors, such as advanced age, physical trauma, psychological stress, cancer, radiotherapy, or states of immunosuppression [1]. Reactivation of the infection typically manifests as a painful rash accompanied by blisters involving a specic dermatome. Patients infected with herpes zoster have a history of childhood chickenpox, neuropathic pain along a dermatome, prodrome, fever, headache, and itching or burning sensation in the affected area [5]. The prolonged use of corticosteroids in the geriatric and paediatric population can increase the risk of developing herpes zoster due to its immunosuppressing effects [3].PHN dened as dermatomal pain lasting for at least three months after the acute phase of a HZ [9]. The risk of suffering HZ in ageing person, with immunocompromised (IC) conditions due to diseases or treatments that alter the immune response, Immunodeciency disorders and autoimmune diseases, human immunodeciency virus (HIV), cancer, organ transplantation, pneumonia[4]