Prognosis of Herpes Zoster infection?
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Herpes zoster is viral infection that occurs with reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. It is usually a painful but self-limited dermatomal rash. Symptoms typically start with pain along the affected dermatome, which is followed in 2-3 days by a vesicular eruption. Classic physical findings include painful grouped herpetiform vesicles on an erythematous base. Treatment includes antiviral medications such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir given within 72 hours of symptom onset.
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@nusrat The rash usually resolves within 10-15 days. The prognosis for younger and otherwise healthy patients is excellent. Elderly people have a significantly increased risk of complications. It rarely causes fatalities in patients who are immunocompetent, but it can be life-threatening in severely debilitated or immunocompromised patients. Disseminated zoster in immunocompromised patients can lead to death from encephalitis, hepatitis, or pneumonitis. Patients with active lymphoproliferative malignancies are at particular risk. Mortality rate from disseminated herpes zoster is between 5% and 15%.