Varicella-Zoster Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Male without Fever or Rash
Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) is a human herpesvirus that primarily causes chickenpox and can reactivate later in life. Chickenpox occurs mostly in children and is characterized by a typical generalized vesicular rash. Following the primary infection, VZV can remain latent and can reactivate decades...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | Case Reports in Infectious Diseases |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9940393 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832568527787130880 |
|---|---|
| author | Raju Raghunathan Qasim Khalil Mohamad Mooty |
| author_facet | Raju Raghunathan Qasim Khalil Mohamad Mooty |
| author_sort | Raju Raghunathan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) is a human herpesvirus that primarily causes chickenpox and can reactivate later in life. Chickenpox occurs mostly in children and is characterized by a typical generalized vesicular rash. Following the primary infection, VZV can remain latent and can reactivate decades later to produce Zoster, being more common in the elderly as well as immunosuppressed individuals. The diagnosis of both the primary and reactivation is mostly clinical from the typical rash. However, when presentations are atypical, it leads to diagnostic challenges. We report an unusual case of VZ reactivation in an immunocompetent young adult presenting without fever, zoster rash, or neuralgia. The diagnosis was established by a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on cerebrospinal fluid samples. The patient was treated with acyclovir and responded very well. The diagnosis of VZ meningitis is challenging in the absence of typical features of Zoster rash and requires a high index of suspicion. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d43e5082cd7f408ba44d938b723c7f99 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-6625 2090-6633 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-d43e5082cd7f408ba44d938b723c7f992025-02-03T00:58:55ZengWileyCase Reports in Infectious Diseases2090-66252090-66332021-01-01202110.1155/2021/99403939940393Varicella-Zoster Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Male without Fever or RashRaju Raghunathan0Qasim Khalil1Mohamad Mooty2Department of Hospital Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAEDepartment of Hospital Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAEDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAEVaricella-Zoster virus (VZV) is a human herpesvirus that primarily causes chickenpox and can reactivate later in life. Chickenpox occurs mostly in children and is characterized by a typical generalized vesicular rash. Following the primary infection, VZV can remain latent and can reactivate decades later to produce Zoster, being more common in the elderly as well as immunosuppressed individuals. The diagnosis of both the primary and reactivation is mostly clinical from the typical rash. However, when presentations are atypical, it leads to diagnostic challenges. We report an unusual case of VZ reactivation in an immunocompetent young adult presenting without fever, zoster rash, or neuralgia. The diagnosis was established by a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on cerebrospinal fluid samples. The patient was treated with acyclovir and responded very well. The diagnosis of VZ meningitis is challenging in the absence of typical features of Zoster rash and requires a high index of suspicion.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9940393 |
| spellingShingle | Raju Raghunathan Qasim Khalil Mohamad Mooty Varicella-Zoster Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Male without Fever or Rash Case Reports in Infectious Diseases |
| title | Varicella-Zoster Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Male without Fever or Rash |
| title_full | Varicella-Zoster Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Male without Fever or Rash |
| title_fullStr | Varicella-Zoster Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Male without Fever or Rash |
| title_full_unstemmed | Varicella-Zoster Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Male without Fever or Rash |
| title_short | Varicella-Zoster Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Male without Fever or Rash |
| title_sort | varicella zoster meningitis in an immunocompetent male without fever or rash |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9940393 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rajuraghunathan varicellazostermeningitisinanimmunocompetentmalewithoutfeverorrash AT qasimkhalil varicellazostermeningitisinanimmunocompetentmalewithoutfeverorrash AT mohamadmooty varicellazostermeningitisinanimmunocompetentmalewithoutfeverorrash |