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• Highlights
• Introduction
• Symptoms
• Risk Factors
• Complications
• Vaccination
• Diagnosis
• Treatment for Chickenpox
• Treatment for an Acute Shingles Attack
• Treatment for Postherpetic Neuralgia
• Resources
• References

Shingles and chickenpox (Varicella-zoster virus)

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of shingles and chicken pox.

Alternative Names

Chicken pox; Herpes zoster; Postherpatic neuralgia

References

American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. Recommended immunization schedules for children and adolescents--United States, 2007. Pediatrics . 2007 Jan;119(1):207-8.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A new product (VariZIG) for postexposure prophylaxis of varicella available under an investigational new drug application expanded access protocol. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep . 2006 Mar 3;55(8):209-10.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Varicella outbreak among vaccinated children--Nebraska, 2004. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep . 2006 Jul 14;55(27):749-52.

Chaves SS, Gargiullo P, Zhang JX, Civen R, Guris D, Mascola L, et al. Loss of Vaccine-Induced Immunity to Varicella over Time. N Engl J Med. 2007 Mar 15;356(11):1121-9.

Davis MM, Marin M, Cowan AE, Guris D, Clark SJ. Physician attitudes regarding breakthrough varicella disease and a potential second dose of varicella vaccine. Pediatrics . 2007 Feb;119(2):258-64.

Li Q, Ali MA, Cohen JI. Insulin degrading enzyme is a cellular receptor mediating varicella-zoster virus infection and cell-to-cell spread. Cell . 2006 Oct 20;127(2):305-16.

Lopez AS, Guris D, Zimmerman L, Gladden L, Moore T, Haselow DT, et al. One dose of varicella vaccine does not prevent school outbreaks: is it time for a second dose? Pediatrics . 2006 Jun;117(6):e1070-7.

Quan D, Hammack BN, Kittelson J, Gilden DH. Improvement of postherpetic neuralgia after treatment with intravenous acyclovir followed by oral valacyclovir. Arch Neurol . 2006 Jul;63(7):940-2.

• Review Date: 3/15/2007
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.

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