Herpes zoster ophthalmicus: An eye and skin emergency
Keywords:
Varicella Zoster Virus, Herpes Zoster, Ophthalmicus, EncephalitisAbstract
Herpes Zoster (HZ) is an acute painful infection caused by reactivation of latent Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) manifesting as a painful vesicular rash in a dermatomal distribution. Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus (HZO) is implicated with high risk of ocular involvement which can even result in permanent vision loss. We report a case of an elderly female who presented with severe pain on right upper face followed by a papulovesicular rash, was found to have early ocular involvement and later developed the symptoms of encephalitis. Timely diagnosis and prompt treatment resulted in complete recovery in minimal duration. Keywords: Varicella Zoster Virus, Herpes Zoster, Ophthalmicus, encephalitisReferences
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