CLINICAL STUDY OF HERPES ZOSTER

OBJECTIVES: 1. To find out the incidence of Herpes zoster in patients attending the dermatology and venereology clinic. 2. To determine the distribution of herpes zoster in relation to age, sex, religion, season, socio-economic status and rural urban background. 3. To study the various clinical features like site of occurrence, initial presentation and course of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients of herpes zoster attending outpatient Department of Dermatology and Venereology were included in the study. Detailed history, thorough physical examination and relevant investigations were done. RESULTS: No seasonal variation was found. Out of the 100 patients of herpes zoster majority of the patients belonged to the age group 21-40 years (42%). The male to female ratio was 1.8: 1. Most of the patients were from low socio-economic group. 65 patients were literate and 35 patients were illiterate. Prodromal symptoms occurred in 61% of patients. Post-herpetic neuralgia was common in elderly and immunosuppressed patients. Commonest segment involved was the thoracic segment (46%). Majority of patients had single dermatomal involvement (87%). Multidermatomal involvement was seen in 13 patients (13%), out of which majority had immunosuppression like HIV and Diabetes Mellitus.