Recurrent herpes simplex (w2) Flashcards
Recurrent Herpes Simplex Lesions are Due to …
reactivation of latent virus after a previous primary attack (not a re-infection)
What are the types of herpes simplex?
A) Recurrent Herpes Labialis
B) Recurrent Intraoral Herpes
What is the percentage of patients who’s subjected to virus reactivation?
20 - 30%
What are the factors that trigger recurrent herpes labialis?
- common cold
- febrile infections
- exposure to strong sunshine
- menstruation
- emotional upsets
- local irritation (dental treatment)
Describe the prodrome of recurrent herpes labialis
- parasthesia (burning sensations)
- erythema
- Vesicles form after an hour or two in clusters along the mucocutaneous junction of the lips but can extend onto the adjacent skin.
What is the pathogenesis of herpes labialis?
- The vesicles enlarge, coalesce and weep exudates.
- After two or three days they rupture and crust over but new vesicles frequently appear for a day or two only to scab over
- they heal, usually without scarring.
How long does a cycle of herpes labialis take?
The whole cycle may take up to 10 days.
What changes herpes labialis vesicles to pustules?
Secondary bacterial infection
What is the treatment of herpes labialis?
1-Sun block and avoid exposure to sunlight if it is the predisposing factor.
2- When viral damage is seen, treatment must start as soon as the primary (premonitory) sensations are felt.
- Acyclovir cream 5 times daily for 5 days should be started within 24 hours.
What is the pathogenesis of recurrent intraoral herpes?
- Clusters of small vesicles that break into ulcers, 1-2 mm in diameter
- appear MAINLY ON KERATINIZED oral mucosa (gingival, hard palate,…).
What is the treatment of recurrent intraoral herpes?
Tetracycline mouth bath/ wash after meals and before bedtime.
(antibiotic that treats side effects)
What is chronic Herpes Simplex Lesions?
- It is a variant of recurrent herpes simplex lesion
- occurring in immune compromised patients (AIDS, immunosuppressive therapy, leukemia, lymphoma, …..)
- Lesions appear on skin or mucosal surfaces as an ordinary recurrent herpetic lesion
- remain for weeks or months
- develop into large, deep, painful ulcers (up to several centimeters in diameter).
What is the treatment of chronic Herpes Simplex Lesions?
- Systemically administered acyclovir
2. doubling the dose; i.e. 400 mg 5 times/day, till healing takes place.
What is herpetic whitlow?
It is a cross infection of fingers after manipulation of herpetic lesions
Who is subjected to herpetic whitlows?
- dental surgeons and their assistants.
- patients themselves
- Mothers applying antiherpetic drugs to children’s lesions should wear gloves.
How can herpetic whitlows be prevented?
By using gloves when giving dental treatment
When is herpetic whitlows dangerous?
In immunodeficient patients
How is herpetic whitlows treated in In immunodeficient patients?
acyclovir doubling the dose 400 mg 5 times per day till healing
What is Zoster (shingles) characterized by?
- pain
- vesicular rash
- stomatitis in the related dermatome.
What is the virus that causes chicken pox and zoster? And what does it do?
The varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes:
- chickenpox in the non-immune (mainly children),
- reactivation of the latent virus causes zoster, mainly in the elderly.
How frequent is the reactivation of zoster?
very rare
when does zoster reoccur?
When there is an underlying immunodeficiency:
- in organ transplant patients
- can be an early complication of some tumors, (Hodgkin’s disease, AIDS.)
What is the pathogenesis of herpes zoster?
- May involve one of the divisions of trigeminal nerve.
- produces similar epithelial lesions to those of herpes simplex
- inflammation of the related posterior root ganglion.
(later it becomes latent in nerve ganglion and it is called neurotoropic virus) - Vesicles, often confluent, form on one side of the face and in the mouth up to the midline. Vesicles contain clear fluid but after few days may become purulent; they rupture forming ulcers and turn to crust in 1 week.
- Mixed skin lesions can develop on the same skin area such as papules, vesicles, pustules and crusts.
- The regional lymph nodes are enlarged and tender. The acute phase usually lasts about a week.
- Pain preceeds rash until the lesions crust over and start to heal (severe neuralgic pain), but secondary infection may cause suppuration and scarring of the skin. Malaise and fever are usually associated.
- Lesions are localized to one side (absolutely unilateral), within the distribution of any of the divisions of the trigeminal nerve
- Patients are sometimes unable to distinguish the pain of trigeminal zoster from severe toothache, this has sometimes led to unnecessary dental extraction. Also, sometimes pain occurs without rash or oral lesions, (herpes sine eruption) which leads to problems in diagnosis.
What happens when herpes zoster affect ophthalmic nerve?
blindness due to corneal scarring may occur.
What happens when herpes zoster affect 2nd (maxillary) and 3rd (mandibular) divisions?
Oral lesions are seen