Clinical and epidemiological profile of herpes zoster cases and its complications: A prospective study

Background: The varicella-zoster virus, which is known to lie dormant in the dorsal root ganglia after primary chickenpox infection or immunization, and in rare instances, intrauterine infection, is the source of the common viral infection known as herpes zoster (HZ). In healthy people, the illness usually goes away on its own, but in severely immunocompromised patients, it can cause persistent debilitation through multi-dermatomal, severe, vesiculo-pustular, nodular, crusted, and ecthymatous manifestations. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to better understand the clinical profile and epidemiological patterns of HZ and various postherpetic complications. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karnataka for 24 months during August 2013–August 2015. Seventy-five patients with HZ and postherpetic complications attending the dermatology outpatient department were included in the study. Pre-existing comorbidities and patient details were recorded. The Hayes and Patterson Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to record the kind, duration, and intensity of the pain. Results: The current cross-sectional study was done in a tertiary care hospital, and a total of 75 patients were considered for the study. The youngest patient was a 12-year-old male and the eldest patient was a 90-year-old male. The average age of patients was 52.45 ± 12.5 years. Cutaneous examination showed erythema (84%) and vesicles (84%). The intensity of pain was classified based on the VAS. About 54.6% of patients had a moderate degree of pain. Conclusion: Acute vesicles with erythema and radicular pain with a unilateral dermatomal distribution are the most typical presentation of HZ infection, and they are most frequently seen in the thoracic area.