What are the dangers of varicella virus

The varicella virus is also known as the varicella-zoster virus. Generally, it refers to a baby who is infected with chickenpox at birth. After treatment, the body will recover. At this time, there may be latent viruses hidden in the body. If the virus breaks out again, it will cause the patient to get shingles, so it is also called the varicella-zoster virus. When the patient's immunity is low, it often causes the disease.

chicken pox

1. The virus enters the body through the respiratory mucosa or conjunctiva. After two rounds of viremia, the virus replicates in large quantities and spreads throughout the body, especially the skin and mucous membranes. After an incubation period of about 2 weeks, papules and blisters appear on the skin all over the body due to swelling of epithelial cells, ballooning and accumulation of tissue fluid, and some develop into pustules due to infection. The rash is distributed centripetally, with more cases on the trunk than on the face and limbs.

2. Complications of encephalitis and pneumonia are rare in healthy children. The symptoms of chickenpox in adults are more severe, often complicated by pneumonia, and have a higher mortality rate. Chickenpox is a serious and potentially fatal infection in immunocompromised children and non-immune newborns. If a pregnant woman gets chickenpox, in addition to being a serious illness, it may also cause fetal malformation, miscarriage or death.

Shingles

Herpes zoster is a common disease in adults, the elderly, or patients with immunodeficiency and immunosuppression, and is caused by the activation of latent virus.

1. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus: Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is mostly sporadic, with the most common onset from September to November. Clinically, herpes zoster ophthalmicus is accompanied by involvement of the first branch of the ipsilateral trigeminal nerve, which can be seen as red and swollen pupil, conjunctival congestion, blisters and crusts. It can also affect the cornea to form ulcerative keratitis, and later blindness due to scar formation. In severe cases, panophthalmitis, encephalitis, and even death may occur.

2. Herpes zoster oticus: also known as Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, is caused by VZV invading the facial nerve and auditory nerve. The clinical features are acute ear pain and ipsilateral facial paralysis, occasionally accompanied by hearing loss, dizziness, etc. It may be accompanied by fever, local lymph node swelling and then mumps.

3. Herpes zoster meningitis: It is caused by the virus invading the central nervous system directly from the front and back of the spinal nerves. Most cases occur in patients with involvement of cranial nerves, cervical or upper thoracic spinal cord nerve segments. Symptoms include headache, vomiting, convulsions or other progressive sensory disorders, and may also include ataxia and other cerebellar symptoms.

4. Visceral herpes zoster: The virus invades the visceral nerve fibers of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves from the back of the spinal cord, causing gastrointestinal or urinary tract symptoms. When it invades the pleura and peritoneum, irritation symptoms or even effusion occur.