Herpes Zoster Infection in Young Adult in the Nabdam District of Ghana: A Case Report

Abstract

The varicella zoster virus belongs to the family of alpha herpes viridae which is responsible for both primary and recurring infections. Herpes zoster is a condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. The reactivation follows a suppressed immune system or aging. Herpes zoster mostly affects the aged population; however, it can also occur at any age. Herpes zoster is capable of affecting any sensory ganglia and its cutaneous nerve. The infections mostly affect the dermatomes of T3 to L2, however, about 13% of the patients manifest infections relating any of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve. Prodromal symptoms may include malaise, neuropathic pain, headache and interrupted sleep. Herpes zoster causes pruritic, confined, blisters which usually occur unilaterally in the distribution of either one or more adjacent sensory nerves that comes along with neuropathic pain in the affected dermatome. This case of Herpes zoster is reported on a 32-years-old man who was managed based on the symptoms he presented.