Varicella-Zoster Infection

Characteristic features:

• primary form as varicella in children (chicken pox)

• herpes zoster as secondary infection in adults

• triggering factors: immunodeficiency, trauma to spinal cord, malignancy

• unilateral

• severe neuralgic pain after resolving for 3 months (post herpetic neuralgia)

• oral features can be seen when maxillary/mandibular nerve affected

herpes zoster

Differential diagnosis:

• Recurrent intraoral herpes

recurrent intraoral herpes

• recurrent herpes labialis

• dermatitis herpetiformis

dermatitis herpetiformis