Shingles ( Herpes Zoster )

Shingles ( Herpes Zoster ) is an infection of nerve and the area of skin around it. It is caused by the herpes varicella zoster virus , which is also called chicken pox ( PHE March 2020 ) Primary infection by the VZV ( Varicella zoster virus ) causes chicken pox usually in childhood. VZV is an exclusively human neutrophic alpha herpesvirus- Varicella or chickenpox

The virus remains latent in the ganglionic neurons along the entire neuraxis and gets reactivated when the immune system weakens due to any reason as advancing age , immunosuppression- herpes zoster or HZV

How common -Any one who had natural infection with wild-type VZV or had varicella vaccination can develop herpez zoster over 95 % of immunocompetent individuals aged > 50 yrs are seropositive for VZV ( indicating primary infection ) and are theoretically at risk of developing HZ In the US an estimated 1 million cases are seen each year In the UK the overall incidence is estimated to be 1.85 - 3.9 cases per 1000 population Incidence increases with age ( reduced cell mediated immunity ) No seasonal variation The estimated lifetime risk of HZ in the general population is about 30 %...