Zoster Virus (herpes)

Zoster herpes virus (virus from the viridae herpes family)

Varicella zoster virus: description, clinic symptoms, photos, contagion, etc.

The disease known as herpes zoster (also called varicella zoster) is a viral infection, which means it’s caused by a virus, and it appears with deep symptoms.
If an adult gets this pathology is because in the childhood people was infected with varicella, since virus zoster is caused by that virus (varicella) that stays inside the body and for some reason (we’ll see later) it reactivates itself bringing out the disease called varicella zoster.

Varicella: a type of disease that appears in children very often and is very contagious, its symptoms are:
blisters damage which, when they break out, leave some crusts and then with the time are healed by their own.

Why the herpes virus can reactivate itself?

The causes of this virus reactivation are: stress situations, anomalies in the immune system (includes pathologies like leukemia, VIH or Aids, etc) and the exposure to certain factors (sun, toxic elements, etc).

After the first symptoms of the infection, responsible of causing varicella, the adult doesn’t terminate the virus completely, it stays asleep in the nodes or nerves. For some reason the virus starts to reproduce itself and travels along the neurons’ extensions till they emerge through the skin reaching the dermatoma (nerves).
A dermatoma is the area of the skin that involves every single nerve, it begins in the back of the middle line and ends in the central part of the body. We have one in each side of the body, but they don’t join in the middle, that’s why the myth which says that if the sides of the varicella joins can cause the death is absolutely false.
The zoster virus in the skin causes, like varicella, blisters damages, that with the time, they get dry bringing out crusts. Inside these damages (liquid) we can find plenty of living viruses, they also cause deep pain in the nerves when they are stimulated.

herpes zoster in human

herpes zoster virus

Period without damage (the virus reaches the skin). You can feel slight pain and itch
Apparition of blisters in the skin (from 2 to 3 days, when the virus reaches the skin)
Breaking of blisters (5th or 6th day). They become ulcers that will turn into crusts
The damages end in a period of time leaving the skin with a pink colour where the blisters were placed
The process lasts between 1 or 2 weeks

Apart from pain, this virus can bring out symptoms such us: temperature, headaches, slight pain, abdominal muscles pain, etc.

Attention: varicella zoster virus may cause damage in the eyes and in the central nervous system, even more serious symptoms that concern specific treatments.

The diagnosis of this disease is most of the times clinic, it is based on the characteristics of its damages and its location, although more specific labs reports can be done to be sure about this virus.

The herpes zoster treatment, in patients who are not immune to skin pathologies, is symptomatic (treatment for pain), but if the infection is located in the eyes, the person requires intensive care.
Creams which contain aciclovir may be used or any other type of chemical of the same group but we can’t assure effective results.

zoster herpes virus blisters