WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Dr. Sawsan Abd Al-Razzaq Taha.M,B,Ch,B.DDV* and Dr. Zuhair Ajjam.M,B,Ch,B.M,Sc(UK)

ABSTRACT

Background: Herpes Zoster (HZ) it is cutaneous viral infection of the skin characterized by unilateral radicular painful vesicular eruption limited to the dermatome innervated by single spinal or cranial sensory ganglion. Aim of study: The study was especially designated to throw light on and evaluate the clinical picture of Herpes zoster in Iraqi patients attending Al- Yarmook Teaching Hospital. Methodology: A clinical study was carried out on sixty five patients with Herpes Zoster who visited our clinic over six month's period, their ages ranged from 6-85 years with a mean age of 37.4 years. There were 43 males (66.1%) and 22 females (33. 8 %). Result: Thoracic dermatomes where the most common dermatomes involved 40 patients (61 .5 o/o) and T10 was the commonest (12 patients) (1 8. 4 %). The pain was the commonest presenting symptom and was seen in 27 patients (41.5%). The common eruption was clear vesiculobullous in 45 patients (69.2%). There was no recognized precipitating factor noticed in 45 patients (69.2%). Five patients after a mean period of five weeks with PHN with their ages ranged from (50-85 years) representing (7.6%), and two patients of the same group presented with scarring lesion of the scalp representing (3%). Conclusion: The rash and pain usually subside within three to five weeks, but about one in five people develop a painful condition called post herpetic, which is often difficult to manage.