Varicella Zoster Flashcards
Number of serotypes for VZV
1
incubation period for varicella
2-3wks
clinical presentation of varicella
fever, vesicles, surrounding area of erythema –> pustules
*centripetal distribution
complications of varicella
skin super infection (staph or strep)
aseptic meningitis
post infectious encephalomyelitis
pneumonia
hemorrhagic (fulminating varicella)
- thrombocytopenia
- DIC
arthritis
congential varicella
treatment of varicella?
- symptomatic - antipyretics, antipruritics, antihistamines
- Varicella Zoster IG (VZIG)
- acyclovir
epide of varicella
highly infections = R0 = 8
how is varicella spread
- Droplet
- Saliva
- Skin lesion contact
control/prevention of varicella
barrier nursing and isolation of immunosuppressed pt
VZIG
Live attenuated vaccine (MMRV)
what is zoster
recrudescent disease occuring in the dermatome of sensory ganglia due to reactivation of latent VZV - travel down sensory axons to skin (adopt dermatomal position)
clinical presentation of zoster
painful vesicles eruption - follow distribution corresponding to one or more sensory root ganglia
– most common in thoracic ‘belt of roses’
complications of zoster
encephalomyelitis
disseminated zoster (reach organs)
pneumonia
bacterial superinfection
lymphocytic pleocytosis
treatment of zoster
acyclovir
lab diagnosis of zoster
PCR
IF - intracellular viral antigens
stained smears of scrapings of swabs fro, base - multinucleated giant cells
zoster isolation
human fibrioblast cultures (CPE)
IF, NT of isolate with specific antigens
serology of zoster
IgM in recent and varicella and zoster
Rise in Ab titre
High levels of neutralising Ab in zoster
