Community Eye Health Journal (Jan 2003)

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus in HIV/AIDS

  • Boateng Wiafe MD MSc

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 47
pp. 35 – 36

Abstract

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Herpes zoster is a common infection caused by the human herpes virus 3, the same virus that causes chickenpox. It is a member of herpes viridae, the same family as the herpes simplex virus, Epstein- Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus occurs when a latent varicella zoster virus in the trigeminal ganglia involving the ophthalmic division of the nerve is reactivated. Of the three divisions of the fifth cranial nerve, the ophthalmic is involved 20 times more frequently than the other divisions.

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