Herpes zoster virus Health Dictionary

Inflammation of the skin or mucous membrane with clusters of deep seated vesicles... herpes

See SHINGLES... herpes zoster

The virus that causes glandular fever or infectious MONONUCLEOSIS. It is similar to the viruses that cause herpes and is associated with BURKITT’S LYMPHOMA. It has been suggested as precipitating some attacks of MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS (ME), also known as CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME (CFS).... epstein barr virus

See HERPES GENITALIS.... genital herpes

An acute infectious disease, characterised by the development of groups of super?cial vesicles, or blebs, in the skin and mucous membrane. It is due to either simplex type 1 or 2 virus, and infection can occur at any time from birth onwards; however the usual time for primary infection with type 1 is between the second and 15th year. Once an individual is infected, the virus persists in the body for the rest of their life. It is one of the causes of scrum-pox. Type 2 causes HERPES GENITALIS.

Symptoms Symptoms vary with the age of infection. In young infants, herpes simplex may cause a generalised infection which is sometimes fatal. In young children the infection is usually in the mouth, and this may be associated with enlargement of the glands in the neck, general irritability and fever. The condition usually settles in 7–10 days. In adults the vesicles may occur anywhere in the skin or mucous membranes: the more common sites are the lips, mouth and face, where they are known as cold sores. The vesicles may also appear on the genitalia (herpes genitalis) or in the conjunctiva or cornea of the EYE, and the brain may be infected, causing ENCEPHALITIS or MENINGITIS. The ?rst sign is the appearance of small painful swellings; these quickly develop into vesicles which contain clear ?uid and are surrounded by a reddened area of skin. Some people are particularly liable to recurrent attacks, and these often tend to be associated with some debilitating condition or infection, such as pneumonia.

Except in the case of herpes of the cornea, the eruption clears completely unless it becomes contaminated with some other organism. In the case of the cornea, there may be residual scarring, which may impair vision.

Treatment Aciclovir is e?ective both topically as cream or eye drops or orally. In severe systemic infections it can be given intravenously.... herpes simplex

An extremely small infective agent requiring living cells for replication. Are either RNA or DNA, never both.... virus

See prion.... slow virus

A mosquito-borne viral infection that is normally harmless to healthy people who, if infected, develop a mild ?u-like illness. However, if the elderly and those in poor health, particularly immunocompromised patients, are infected, they may develop fatal in?ammation of the brain and spinal cord. In Israel in 2000, 12 people died and more than 155 survived an outbreak; and in New York in 1999, more than 60 people were infected, of whom six died. The disease was ?rst reported in Uganda in 1937 and became ENDEMIC in the Middle East and Africa, recently spreading to Europe, central Asia, Oceania and America. Mosquitoes bearing the ?aviviridae-family virus usually contract it by biting infected poultry, but the infection has been found in mammals, such as cats, dogs and horses.... west nile virus

 Venereal disease. Caused by Herpes simplex virus, type 2, (HSV2) which infects the skin and mucosa of the genital organs and anus. The strain is more virulent than HSV1 which attacks face and lips. Contagious. STD. Blisters appear 4-7 days after coitus. May be transmitted by mother to baby at delivery. The condition is often misdiagnosed as thrush. To dispel doubts, refer to urological department of nearest hospital. Evidence exists between genital herpes and cancer of the cervix. Clinical diagnosis should be confirmed by virus culture. Attacks are recurrent and self-infective.

Symptoms: redness, soreness, itching followed by blisters on the penis or vulva. Blisters ulcerate before crusting over. Lesions on anus of homosexual men.

Treatment by general medical practitioner or hospital specialist.

Alternatives. Sarsaparilla, Echinacea, Chaparral and St John’s Wort often give dramatic relief to itching rash. See entry: ECHINACEA.

Tea. Formula. Equal parts: Clivers, Gotu Kola, Valerian. One heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 5-10 minutes. Dose: 1 cup thrice daily.

Decoction. Combine: Echinacea 2; Valerian 1; Jamaican Dogwood 1. One heaped teaspoon to each cup water gently simmered 20 minutes. Half-1 cup thrice daily.

Tablets/capsules. Poke root. Valerian. Passion flower. St John’s Wort. Echinacea. Chaparral. Pulsatilla. Red Clover.

Powders. Formula. Echinacea 2; Valerian 1; Jamaica Dogwood 1. Dose: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one- third teaspoon) thrice daily.

Tinctures. Formula. Echinacea 2; Sarsaparilla 1; Thuja quarter; Liquorice quarter. Dose: 1-2 teaspoons thrice daily.

Topical. Apply any of the following 3, 4 or more times daily. Pulp or gel of Aloe Vera, Houseleek, Echinacea lotion. Garlic – apply slice of fresh corm as an antihistamine. Yoghurt compresses (improved by pinch of Goldenseal powder). Zinc and Castor oil (impressive record). Apply direct or on tampons. Diet. Porridge oats, or muesli oats.

Supplementation: same as for Shingles.

Prevention. Women should be advised to submit for an annual cytosmear. Information. Herpes Association, 41 North Road, London N7 9DP, UK. Send SAE. ... herpes, genital

A mosquito-borne arbovirus causing symptoms similar to Ross River virus infection in Australia. (See also Ross River virus).... barmah forest virus

A group of viruses so-called because they were ?rst isolated from two patients with a disease resembling paralytic POLIOMYELITIS, in the village of Coxsackie in New York State. Thirty distinct types have now been identi?ed. They constitute one of the three groups of viruses included in the family of ENTEROVIRUSES, and are divided into two groups: A and B. Despite the large number of types of group A virus (24) in existence, evidence of their role in causing human disease is limited. Some, however, cause aseptic MENINGITIS, non-specicifc upper respiratory infection and MYOCARDITIS, and others cause a condition known as HERPANGINA. HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE is another disease caused by the A group. All six types of group B virus have been associated with outbreaks of aseptic meningitis, and they are also the cause of BORNHOLM DISEASE. Epidemics of type B2 infections tend to occur in alternate years. (See VIRUS.)... coxsackie viruses

Ebola virus disease is another name for VIRAL HAEMORRHAGIC FEVER. The ebola virus is one of the most virulent micro-organisms known. Like the marburg virus (see MARBURG DISEASE), it belongs to the ?lovirus group which originates in Africa. Increased population mobility and wars have meant that the infection occasionally occurs elsewhere, with air travellers developing symptoms on returning home.

Treatment As the disease can be neither prevented nor cured, treatment is supportive, with strict anti-infection procedures essential as human-to-human transmission can occur via skin and mucous-membrane contacts. Incubation period is 5–10 days. Fever with MYALGIA and headache occur initially, often accompanied by abdominal and chest symptoms. Haemorrhagic symptoms soon develop and the victim either starts to improve in the second week or develops multi-organ failure and lapses into a coma. Mortality ranges from 25 to 90 per cent.... ebola virus disease

Virus of Flying Foxes (Fruit Bats) in Australia. Can infect horses and humans. Also known as the Equine morbillivirus.... hendra virus

The most common causes of viral hepatitis are those caused by the Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E and G viruses. Hepatitis F virus has been described but is a doubtful entity. Other viruses which can cause hepatitis include the Epstein-Barr Virus, cytomegalovirus, and the Yellow Fever virus.... hepatitis viruses

An infection of the genitals (see GENITALIA) of either sex, caused by HERPES SIMPLEX virus type

2. It is mostly acquired as a result of sexual activity; some cases are caused by simplex type

1. After initial infection the virus lies latent in the dorsal nerve root ganglion (of the spinal cord) which enervates the affected area of the skin. Latent virus is never cured and reactivation results in either a recurrence of symptoms or in asymptomatic shedding of the virus which then infects a sexual partner. Around 30,000 cases of genital herpes are reported annually from clinics dealing with SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDS) in England, but there are also many unrecognised (by either patient or doctor) infections. Patients may have a history of painful attacks of ulceration of the genitals for many years before seeking medical advice. All patients with a ?rst episode of the infection should be given oral antiviral treatment, and those who suffer more than six attacks a year should be considered for suppressive antiviral treatment. ACICLOVIR, valaciclovir and famciclovir are all e?ective antiviral drugs. If a woman in the ?nal three months of her pregnancy contracts herpes genitalis, this can have serious consequences for the baby as he or she will be at risk of herpes encephalitis after delivery.... herpes genitalis

Causative virus of genital herpes and herpes labalis or cold sores.... herpes simplex virus

One member of a group of viruses containing DNA which cause latent infections in animals and humans. Viruses from this group cause HERPES SIMPLEX, HERPES ZOSTER (shingles) and CHICKENPOX, and include CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CCMV) and EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS.... herpes viruses

The name of the causative agent of AIDS.... hiv (human immunodeficiency virus)

See AIDS/HIV.... human immunodeficiency virus

A group of rhabdoviruses closely related to the rabies virus. The Australian Bat Lyssa virus is found in flying foxes (fruit bats) and can cause a rabies-like disease in humans. The disease should be handled as for rabies and can be prevented by using rabies vaccine.... lyssa virus

A herpes virus of monkeys that can infect humans, usually through handling monkey tissues at autopsy or in the laboratory.... monkey b virus

Virus first identified from the village of Nipah in Malaysia. Carried by flying foxes (fruit bats). Can infect pigs and humans.... nipah virus

These include the human papilloma viruses (HPV), of which nearly a hundred strains have been identi?ed. HPV cause verrucae (see WARTS) on skin and, less often, on the mucous membranes of mouth, larynx, genitalia and the cervix. Some strains may predispose to eventual cancer.... papova viruses

These are included in the paramyxoviruses (see MYXOVIRUSES) and divided into four types, all of which cause infection of the respiratory system (see RESPIRATION). Infection with type 3 begins in May, reaches a maximum in July or August and returns to base-line level in October. Types 1 and 2 are predominantly winter viruses. Children are commonly affected and the manifestations include CROUP, fever, and a rash.... parainfluenza viruses

These infectious agents derive their name from pico (small) and from RNA (because they contain ribonuleic acid). They are a group of viruses which includes the ENTEROVIRUSES and the RHINOVIRUSES.... picorna viruses

Usually known as RSV, this is one of the MYXOVIRUSES. It is among the major causes of BRONCHIOLITIS and PNEUMONIA among infants aged under 6 months; its incidence has been increasing, possibly due to atmospheric pollution.... respiratory syncytial virus (rsv)

A mosquito-borne arbovirus causing epidemic polyarthritis in Australia and certain islands of the Western Pacific to which it has spread.... ross river virus

Two names for the eruption popularly known as shingles. (See HERPES ZOSTER.)... zona and zoster

A virus that causes infectious mononucleosis; the virus is also associated with Burkitt’s lymphoma and cancer of the nasopharynx (see nasopharynx, cancer of).... epstein–barr virus

A rare skin disorder of pregnant women that produces crops of blisters on the legs and abdomen. The cause is not known.

Severe herpes gestationis is treated with corticosteroid drugs in tablet form and may require hospital admission.

The disorder usually clears up completely after birth of the baby, but tends to recur in subsequent pregnancies.... herpes gestationis

A group of diseases of the central nervous system that occur many months or even years after infection with a virus. They cause gradual widespread destruction of nerve tissue, with progressive loss of brain function and a fatal outcome. Examples include Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and kuru.... slow virus diseases

The virus that causes chickenpox and shingles.... varicella–zoster

see HIV.... human immunodeficiency virus

a group of large RNA-containing viruses that cause infections of the respiratory tract producing mild influenza-like symptoms. They are included in the paramyxovirus group (see myxovirus).... parainfluenza viruses

Haemorrhagic fever with kidney syndrome (HFRS). Has been known for years by the Chinese and other nations of antiquity. Over 3,000 cases recorded during the Korean War (1951- 1952), the disease taking its name from the River Hantaan, South Korea.

Cause: a virus spread by field mice, rats and other rodents. Incubation period: 2-3 weeks.

Symptoms: fever, headache, backache, severe nervous prostration, low blood pressure, red patches on skin, failure of kidneys, high protein levels in urine. Small red or purple spots indicate bleeding beneath the skin.

Treatment. Traditional. Ayurvedic:– Gotu Kola, Juniper. Dr Mattiolus regards Juniper as a preventative of the pestilence.

To be treated by or in liaison with a qualified medical practitioner. HARPAGOPHYTUM. See: DEVIL’S CLAW. ... hantaan virus

The smallest known types of infectious agent. It is debatable whether viruses are truly living organisms or just collections of molecules capable of selfreplication under specific conditions. Their sole activity is to invade the cells of other organisms, which they then take over to make copies of themselves. Outside living cells, viruses are inert.

A single virus particle (virion) consists of an inner core of nucleic acid, which may be either DNA or RNA, surrounded

by 1 or 2 protective protein shells (capsids). Surrounding the outer capsid may be another layer, the viral envelope, which consists mainly of protein. The nucleic acid consists of a string of genes that contain coded instructions for making copies of the virus.

Common viral diseases include the common cold, influenza, and chickenpox (caused by the varicella–zoster virus). AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).... viruses

(echovirus) one of a group of RNA-containing viruses that are able to multiply in the gastrointestinal tract (see enterovirus). About 30 different types exist. Type A Coxsackie viruses generally cause less severe and less well-defined diseases, such as *hand, foot, and mouth disease, although some cause meningitis and severe throat infections (see herpangina). Type B Coxsackie viruses cause inflammation or degeneration of heart tissue, resulting in pericarditis or myocarditis, or brain tissue, producing meningitis or encephalitis. They can also attack the muscles of the chest wall, the bronchi, pancreas, thyroid, or conjunctiva and recent evidence suggests they may be implicated in diabetes in children and in motor neuron disease. See also Bornholm disease.... coxsackie virus

(RSV) a paramyxovirus (see myxovirus) that causes infections of the nose and throat. It is a major cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young children. In tissue cultures infected with the virus, cells merge together to form a conglomerate (syncytium). RSV is thought to have a role in *sudden infant death syndrome. Vulnerable children can be treated with *ribavirin, but most children just require supportive measures.... respiratory syncytial virus

a mosquito-borne virus that usually causes mild symptoms in humans, including fever, skin rashes, muscle and joint pain, and headache. However, infection during pregnancy can result in brain abnormalities of the fetus, notably *microcephaly. Zika virus can also trigger *Guillain–Barré syndrome. Infection is usually from a mosquito bite, although the virus may also be transmitted by sexual intercourse.... zika virus

a virus responsible for an acute infection in humans with features similar to those of *Marburg disease. Transmission is by contact with infected blood and other body fluids and the incubation period is 2–21 days (7 days on average). The mortality rate is 53–88%, but intensive treatment (including rehydration) in the early stages of the disease can halt its rapid and usually irreversible progression to haemorrhaging of internal organs. Until recently, sporadic but short-lived outbreaks have occurred in Africa since 1976, when the virus was first identified during an outbreak in the region of the Ebola river, in Zaïre (now Democratic Republic of Congo). A major epidemic of the disease broke out in West Africa at the end of 2013 and lasted until May 2016: over 11,000 people died. An unknown species of animal – possibly a fruit bat – is assumed to act as a reservoir for the virus between outbreaks of the disease in humans.... ebola virus