Presented By
Shalina Shaik
PGY 3 Emory Family Medicine
Date: August 5, 2010
57 yo Hispanic male w/ DM, HTN, HLD presented
                w/rash x 2 days.
Rash extending to back
Herpes Zoster - Shingles
What is Shingles ( Herpes Zoster )

• Endogenous reactivation of latent VZV
  infection within the sensory ganglia
• Painful, unilateral vesicular eruption restricted
  to dermatomal pattern
Pathogenesis
Clinical Manifestations

• Rash : starts as erythematous papules, quickly
  evolve into grouped vesicles or bullae. Within
  3 – 4 days
• Crust by 7 – 10 days
• Occ 2 or 3 neighbouring dermatomes
• Thoracic and lumbar dermatomes most
  common
• 20% have systemic symptoms: HA/
  malaise/fever/fatigue
Rash pattern: thoracic dermatomes
Rash pattern : Cervical dermatomes
Shingles rash
Clinical Manifestations cont

• Acute neuritis : 75% have prodromal pain in
  the dermatome where the rash appears
• Can precede the rash days to week
• Pain: burning, stabbing, pruritus, allodynia
• Confused with angina/ cholecystitis/ renal
  colic depending upon dermatome
• Clinical dx. May need viral cx,
  immunoflurescence or PCR
HZV tx

• Acyclovir (least expensive) 800 mg five times a day x 7
  or 14 days
• Valcyclovir 1000mg PO TID
• Famciclovir 500 mg TID
• Initiated within 48 to 72 hrs of onset of symptoms
• Promote more rapid healing of lesions
• Decrease viral shedding
• Lessen the severity and duration of pain associated
  with acute neuritis and reduces PHN
• Recom: > 50 yrs , younger than 50 benefit not clear
• HIV pts tx regardless of age
Reference pt after Tx
2 wk f/u visit
Reference pt – healed lesions
Is shingles contagious?

• Can spread to children or adults who have
  not had chickenpox.
• Spreads through direct contact or airborne
  route
• They develop chickenpox, not shingles
• Once all of blisters are crusted over, no longer
  contagious
Complications in immunocompetent hosts at 60 days


  •   Post herpetic neuralgia – 7.9%
  •   Bacterial infection – 2.3%
  •   Uveitis and Keratitis – 1.6%
  •   Motor neuropathy – 0.9%
  •   Meningitis – 0.5%
  •   Herpes zoster oticus – 0.2%
Clinical recurrences

• Rare in immunocompetent hosts
• Do occur in immunocompromised hosts
Dictionary meaning of word shingles

• 1. A thin oblong piece of material, such as wood or
  slate, that is laid in overlapping rows to cover the
  roof or sides of a house or other building.
• 2. Informal A small signboard, as one indicating a
  professional office.
• 3. A woman's close-cropped haircut.
Post herpetic neuralgia

• Acute herpetic neuralgia: prodromal pain w/
  rash persists upto 30 days from onset
• Subacute herpetic neuralgia: resolves within 4
  months of onset
• PHN persists beyond 4 months from the initial
  onset of rash
• Incidence increases with age, older than 60yrs
• Burning, areas of anesthesia, deficits of
  thermal, tactile,pinprick and vibration
Pathogenesis of PHN

• As cellular immunity wanes with age, the virus
  that lies dormant in the dorsal root ganglia
  travels up the peripheral nerve and causes
  neuritis
• Hemorrhagic inflammation of peripheral
  nerve, movement of viral particles from
  sensory nerves to skin and sub cut tissues
Tx of PHN

•   Antidepressants: amitryptiline, nortryptiline
•   Anticonvulsants: gabapentin, lyrica
•   Opioids
•   Capsaicin
•   Topical lidocaine
•   Steroids: role not proven
Prevention of PHN

• Tx of acute zoster or vaccine
• Incidence reduced by 67% with vaccine
• Low dose amitryptiline or nortryptiline
  initiated within 2 days of rash onset ,
  continued for 90 days
• Intolerance to TCA -> gabapentin, lyrica
Vaccine – Zostavax for prevention

• Approved for use in adults ages 60 and over
  regardless of prior HZ or not. SQ single dose
• Reduces incidence of HZ by 51% and PHN by
  67%
• Booster dose of chickenpox vaccine thats
  given to children
• Not for acute outbreak. May use w/ pts w/ hx
  HZ
Shingles vaccine not recommended for

 • If allergic reaction to gelatin or the antibiotic
   neomycin
 • Prior allergy to any component of the shingles
   vaccine
 • Weakened immune system due to conditions such as
   leukemia, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and
   acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
 • Receiving treatment for cancer
 • Being treated with drugs that suppress their
   immune system, including high-dose steroids
 • Pregnant or might become pregnant within 4 weeks
   of getting the vaccine
Other forms of Herpes zoster
HZ in pregnancy

• Congenital varicella not asso w/ maternal HZ
  infection
• Tx same as non pregnant
• Acyclovir is safe
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus: nasociliary br of
   ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve
HZ ophthalmicus

• Complication: permanent vision
  loss if not treated.
• Causes corneal ulcers and acute
  retinal necrosis
• Hutchinson sign: prognostic
  value: involvement of tip of nose
  precedes the development of
  severe eye inflammation
 Start oral antivirals and give
  Ophtho referral
Herpes zoster oticus

• Lesions in inner /middle ear, external canal
  and pinna
• Affects geniculate ganglion
• Ipsilateral LMN facial paralysis : Ramsay Hunt
  syndrome
Summary

• Identify HZ . Start tx within 72 hrs
• Zostavax for 60 yrs or older
• Vaccine reduces incidence of HZ by 51% &
  PHN by 67%
• HZ over nose -> refer to Ophtho
Chief's Conference: Shingles presentation

Chief's Conference: Shingles presentation

  • 1.
    Presented By Shalina Shaik PGY3 Emory Family Medicine Date: August 5, 2010
  • 2.
    57 yo Hispanicmale w/ DM, HTN, HLD presented w/rash x 2 days.
  • 3.
  • 4.
  • 5.
    What is Shingles( Herpes Zoster ) • Endogenous reactivation of latent VZV infection within the sensory ganglia • Painful, unilateral vesicular eruption restricted to dermatomal pattern
  • 6.
  • 7.
    Clinical Manifestations • Rash: starts as erythematous papules, quickly evolve into grouped vesicles or bullae. Within 3 – 4 days • Crust by 7 – 10 days • Occ 2 or 3 neighbouring dermatomes • Thoracic and lumbar dermatomes most common • 20% have systemic symptoms: HA/ malaise/fever/fatigue
  • 8.
  • 9.
    Rash pattern :Cervical dermatomes
  • 10.
  • 11.
    Clinical Manifestations cont •Acute neuritis : 75% have prodromal pain in the dermatome where the rash appears • Can precede the rash days to week • Pain: burning, stabbing, pruritus, allodynia • Confused with angina/ cholecystitis/ renal colic depending upon dermatome • Clinical dx. May need viral cx, immunoflurescence or PCR
  • 12.
    HZV tx • Acyclovir(least expensive) 800 mg five times a day x 7 or 14 days • Valcyclovir 1000mg PO TID • Famciclovir 500 mg TID • Initiated within 48 to 72 hrs of onset of symptoms • Promote more rapid healing of lesions • Decrease viral shedding • Lessen the severity and duration of pain associated with acute neuritis and reduces PHN • Recom: > 50 yrs , younger than 50 benefit not clear • HIV pts tx regardless of age
  • 13.
  • 14.
    2 wk f/uvisit
  • 15.
    Reference pt –healed lesions
  • 17.
    Is shingles contagious? •Can spread to children or adults who have not had chickenpox. • Spreads through direct contact or airborne route • They develop chickenpox, not shingles • Once all of blisters are crusted over, no longer contagious
  • 18.
    Complications in immunocompetenthosts at 60 days • Post herpetic neuralgia – 7.9% • Bacterial infection – 2.3% • Uveitis and Keratitis – 1.6% • Motor neuropathy – 0.9% • Meningitis – 0.5% • Herpes zoster oticus – 0.2%
  • 19.
    Clinical recurrences • Rarein immunocompetent hosts • Do occur in immunocompromised hosts
  • 20.
    Dictionary meaning ofword shingles • 1. A thin oblong piece of material, such as wood or slate, that is laid in overlapping rows to cover the roof or sides of a house or other building. • 2. Informal A small signboard, as one indicating a professional office. • 3. A woman's close-cropped haircut.
  • 22.
    Post herpetic neuralgia •Acute herpetic neuralgia: prodromal pain w/ rash persists upto 30 days from onset • Subacute herpetic neuralgia: resolves within 4 months of onset • PHN persists beyond 4 months from the initial onset of rash • Incidence increases with age, older than 60yrs • Burning, areas of anesthesia, deficits of thermal, tactile,pinprick and vibration
  • 23.
    Pathogenesis of PHN •As cellular immunity wanes with age, the virus that lies dormant in the dorsal root ganglia travels up the peripheral nerve and causes neuritis • Hemorrhagic inflammation of peripheral nerve, movement of viral particles from sensory nerves to skin and sub cut tissues
  • 24.
    Tx of PHN • Antidepressants: amitryptiline, nortryptiline • Anticonvulsants: gabapentin, lyrica • Opioids • Capsaicin • Topical lidocaine • Steroids: role not proven
  • 25.
    Prevention of PHN •Tx of acute zoster or vaccine • Incidence reduced by 67% with vaccine • Low dose amitryptiline or nortryptiline initiated within 2 days of rash onset , continued for 90 days • Intolerance to TCA -> gabapentin, lyrica
  • 26.
    Vaccine – Zostavaxfor prevention • Approved for use in adults ages 60 and over regardless of prior HZ or not. SQ single dose • Reduces incidence of HZ by 51% and PHN by 67% • Booster dose of chickenpox vaccine thats given to children • Not for acute outbreak. May use w/ pts w/ hx HZ
  • 27.
    Shingles vaccine notrecommended for • If allergic reaction to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin • Prior allergy to any component of the shingles vaccine • Weakened immune system due to conditions such as leukemia, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) • Receiving treatment for cancer • Being treated with drugs that suppress their immune system, including high-dose steroids • Pregnant or might become pregnant within 4 weeks of getting the vaccine
  • 29.
    Other forms ofHerpes zoster
  • 30.
    HZ in pregnancy •Congenital varicella not asso w/ maternal HZ infection • Tx same as non pregnant • Acyclovir is safe
  • 31.
    Herpes zoster ophthalmicus:nasociliary br of ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve
  • 32.
    HZ ophthalmicus • Complication:permanent vision loss if not treated. • Causes corneal ulcers and acute retinal necrosis • Hutchinson sign: prognostic value: involvement of tip of nose precedes the development of severe eye inflammation  Start oral antivirals and give Ophtho referral
  • 33.
    Herpes zoster oticus •Lesions in inner /middle ear, external canal and pinna • Affects geniculate ganglion • Ipsilateral LMN facial paralysis : Ramsay Hunt syndrome
  • 34.
    Summary • Identify HZ. Start tx within 72 hrs • Zostavax for 60 yrs or older • Vaccine reduces incidence of HZ by 51% & PHN by 67% • HZ over nose -> refer to Ophtho