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| SPECIALIST ANSWERS
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Question |
Today I have come across a girl of 8 years who has absolutely painless lesions of herpes zoster on the left side of the neck. She did not have any lesion in th external ear canal. On very careful examination very sublte signs of Left Bell's Palsy were observed. 1. How common is this condition in this age group? 2.Is Herpes Zoster in children is always due to HIV disease?
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Answer |
Herpes zoster is not common in children. It is a disease seen in geriatic population when the immunity of the body goes down and there is reactivation of teh varicella virus.
Herpes zoster in HIV infected children is usually multidermatomal. Herpes can also occur in non HIV infected individuals and other immune deficiencies (especially T cell mediated) should be ruled out.
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