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Herpes Zoster

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European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments

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Abstract

Herpes zoster (HZ) is an acute segmental eruption of herpetiform-grouped vesicles due to endogenous reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection of nerval segments. The disease is characterized by malaise, fever, segmental pain, hyperesthesia, itch, and burning sensations. Postherpetic neuralgia is a greatly feared complication leading to severe chronic pain over more than 4 weeks. HZ needs to be treated by systemic antiviral drugs. First-line treatment is acyclovir or brivudine. In contrast to acyclovir brivudine has no nephrotoxicity resistance. Vaccination is recommended for prophylaxis in elderly patients.

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Abbreviations

BW:

Body weight

DNA pol:

DNA polymerase

HZ:

Herpes zoster

TK:

Thymidine kinase

VZV:

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Municipal Hospital Dresden, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Uwe Wollina

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  1. Uwe Wollina
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Correspondence to Uwe Wollina .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Andreas Syggros Hospital, Athens State University, Athens, Greece

    Andreas D. Katsambas

  2. Research Center CSRMR, Marconi University, Rome, Roma, Italy

    Torello M. Lotti

  3. Andreas Syggros Hospital, Athens State University, Athens, Greece

    Clio Dessinioti

  4. Dermatoloy Unit, Livorno Hospital, Livorno, Italy

    Angelo Massimiliano D'Erme

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Wollina, U. (2023). Herpes Zoster. In: Katsambas, A.D., Lotti, T.M., Dessinioti, C., D'Erme, A.M. (eds) European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15130-9_39

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15130-9_39

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-15130-9

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