Site icon Medical Actu – Actualités Médicales Quotidienne – Actualité Santé

Herpes and shingles

Advertisements

Cutaneous herpes

Recurrent viral infection of the skin and mucous membranes due to the herpes simplex virus.

The clinical expression is different in the case of a primary infection.

Clinical signs:

– Recurrent herpes labialis: sensation of irritation and eruption of vesicles on an erythematous base, on the lips (“cold sores”) around the mouth, with a possible extension to the face. It corresponds to a reactivation of the virus after a primary infection. No discomfort, no lymphadenopathy or fever.

– Carefully consider other sites: oral, genital, eye, and bacterial infections.

Treatment:

– Clean with soap and water 2 times / day until healing of lesions.

– In case of bacterial infection: antibiotic treatment as for impetigo.

Shingles

Acute viral infection caused by varicella zoster virus. Chickenpox is the primary infection and herpes zoster virus reactivation.

Clinical signs:

– Unilateral neuralgic pains and onset of lupus closet coated vesicles grouped in clusters, located on the territory of a nerve root.

– The location of the injury is usually the chest but shingles can develop on the face with risk of eye complications.

– More common in adults.

Treatment:

– Similar to that of herpes, with the addition of systematic analgesics: paracetamol PO.

– The aciclovir PO given within 48 hours after the onset of lesions is only indicated for severe forms: necrotic lesions, extensive or localized to the face with a risk of eye damage. See HIV infection and AIDS.

Exit mobile version