ORO-FACIAL HERPES ZOSTER: A CASE REPORT WITH A DETAILED REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Herpes zoster or shingles is a reactivation of the Varicella zoster virus that entered the cutaneous nerve endings during an earlier episode of chicken pox, travelled to the dorsal root ganglia, and remained in a latent form. Nerves most commonly involved are C3, T5, L1, L2 and first division of trigeminal nerve. The condition is characterized by occurrence of multiple, painful, unilateral vesicles and ulceration which shows a typical single dermatome involvement. The infection usually affects elderly individuals, and if present in the younger age group, immune-compromised status such as HIV/AIDS may be suspected. In this case report we present a patient with herpes zoster involving the maxillary and mandibular divisions of the trigeminal nerve, with unilateral vesicles over the left side of lower and middle 1/3rd of face along the trigeminal nerve tract, with intraoral involvement of buccal mucosa, labial mucosa and the palate of the same side.