How Common Is Herpes Zoster

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Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

What Is Shingles? Shingles is a very painful disease caused by the same herpes virus that causes chicken pox (varicella zoster virus). Like other herpes viruses, the varicella-zoster virus has an initial infectious stage, (chicken pox) followed by a dormant stage. Then, with no warning, the virus becomes active again. About 20% of people who have had chicken pox will eventually develop shingles. This reactivation of the virus is most likely to...

Ask the Experts

Herpes zoster virus

My daughter was exposed to the chicken pox virus and had a low immune system due to allergies and she did have a very light case of the chicken pox. The virus did stay in her body, we did see outbreaks on her elbow and knee which looks like the...

Response from Katherine Luzuriaga, M.D.

University of Massachusetts, Medical School

Chicken pox is the clinical manifestation of primary (first-time) infection with herpes varicella zoster virus. While the symptoms and signs of chicken pox clear with time, the virus remains with the host for life. The virus takes up residence in... Read more »

Immune Reconstitution X Zoster

First of all thanks for the amazing work on this website!I have started treatment 3 month ago, and this week I had an outbreak of Herpes Zoster in the intercoastal area, which I never had before. I m now taking Aciclovir for that. I ve read it s a...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

In my experience development of shingles after starting effective antiretroviral therapy has not impacted the response to treatment overall and does not generally effective outcomes. KH... Read more »

Zoster Breakouts

Hello and thank you for being there for all of us who have so many questions and concerns. My question is this: I very frequently break out with fluid filled "zosters" for lack of a better description. They always appear on my buttocks,...

Response from Douglas T. Dieterich, M.D.

New York University, School of Medicine

This may be zoster, but it may be herpes as well. With the symptoms, it sounds like you should be taking prophylaxis with either acyclovir, famciclovir or valacyclovir. This will prevent breakouts and symptoms. I am assuming that you have had a... Read more »

Herpes Zoster

Hello Dr. Joseph, I have three questions :1-Is Herpes Zoster considered as an HIV-related opportunistic infection?2- Does having frequent recurrence of Herpes Zoster means for sure HIV infection? ( I do have Zoster for 1 year now I am 29 years old...

Response from Joseph McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P.

North Shore University Hospital

Sorry to hear that you have suffered from herpes zoster (also known as shingles).Although zoster is more likely to occur in people with HIV it is not a condition that indicates AIDS. People without HIV infection also get zoster, and having zoster... Read more »

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swollen lip nd Herpes Zoster

Posted by LLsexyLL, 1 Reply

On Wednesday I was just sitting and chatting with my colleague at work when I felt a funny sensation on the left part of my bottom lip, and then my lip just started swelling . I looked ridiculous like half my lip had been stung by bees. Three hours... Read more »

Herpez Zoster

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Dr. Urkie, o los que sepan, hace unos 4 dias me ha salido en la espalda un herpes zoster recien diagnosticado hoy, estoy con tratamiento de Aciclovir y Ketorolaco; pero lo que me preocupa es que he leido que ese tipo de herpes les dan a los... Read more »

Living with HIV and Herpes

Posted by Anonymous, 3 Replies

Hey

I want to hear from anyone thats living with HIV and Herpes how they have coped with the 2 and whether there is any link to Herpes increasing the rapid progression of HIV? Read more »

oral herpes

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

I know this is an HIV board but I have a question about oral herpes and I was wondering if anybody could help. I have a friend who has oral herpes who likes to bite her nails all the time, is it possible for it to transmit the virus to her fingers... Read more »

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