Fatemeh Ahmadi,1Saman Hakimian,2,*
1. Bachelor of Microbiology , University of Ilam , Islamic Azad University , Ilam 2. M.sc student of Microbiology Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch , Iran , Tehran
Introduction: Varicella zoster virus is a lipid-enveloped virus derived from the cell membrane. Varicella zoster virus is classified as a member of the herpes viride family and subfamily of the alpha herpes virus or herpes virine. Varicella zoster virus is the causative agent of two different diseases: chicken pox and shingles. Chicken pox is the primary infection that affects mostly children and is characterized by fever, blisters, and an itchy and painful rash, while herpes zoster is common in adults and in the third age. Varicella zoster virus is one of the human alpha herpes viruses that causes varicella and is generally called chicken pox. Herpes zoster (shingles) is an acute skin-nervous and febrile infectious disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. After primary infection (chicken pox) or vaccination, this virus remains latent in the cells of the sensory posterior root ganglion, and with the reduction of cellular immunity, the virus is reactivated and then replicates within the cells of the sensory posterior root ganglion. It migrates again to the sensory nerves of the skin and leads to herpes zoster, which is generally called shingles.
Methods: After primary infection (chicken pox) or vaccination, this virus remains latent in the cells of the sensory posterior root ganglion, and with the reduction of cellular immunity, the virus is reactivated and then replicates within the cells of the sensory posterior root ganglion. It migrates again to the sensory nerves of the skin and leads to herpes zoster, which is generally called shingles.
Varicella zoster usually appears as a painful one-sided vesicular rash and causes this acute disease to last for 3 to 5 weeks and is usually seen in older people and immunocompromised patients.
The incidence of varicella zoster varies based on population density, risk of exposure, social factors, humidity conditions and specific geographical regions of the world.
Some of the complications caused by varicella zoster are: secondary skin infection, skin gangrene, septicemia, visceral distress, neuralgia after zoster, and numerous eye complications.
The most common complication of zoster is chronic pain caused by neuralgia after herpes, which is seen in approximately 20% of people over 50 years old. Zoster is rarely fatal, but it causes long-term mental-psychological disorders, physical disabilities and sleep disorders.
Results: Medicines such as acyclovir, valciclovir, famciclovir, foscarnet and alpha interferon are usually used to treat varicella zoster. The main drug used to treat varicella zoster is acyclovir. Acyclovir is not allowed to be prescribed in the first trimester of pregnancy. Drugs such as Foscarnet and interferon alpha are approved drugs for the treatment of varicella zoster, and these drugs have shown a certain effectiveness in high-risk patients.
Conclusion: Genetic variation in human leukocyte antigens may increase the risk of zoster, and immune disorder and imbalance between anti-inflammatory and inflammatory cytokines may play a role in the reactivation of varicella zoster virus.