Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) – Causes, Symptoms & Therapy

The varicella-zoster virus is a member of the herpesvirus family . The virus causes neurological diseases , some of which can be of considerable proportions. Herpes viruses are spread worldwide, including the varicella-zoster virus. The infection takes place via droplets and is therefore quite contagious. Smear infections are also possible, in which the virus enters the body. The incubation period varies greatly. After infection, the disease breaks out within 8-28 days. In most cases, however, after 14-16 days.

causes

The varicella-zoster virus is only transmitted from person to person. The infection rate is very high because the virus is transmitted both by droplet infection and smear infection. Once the varicella-zoster virus has entered the body, chickenpox will also develop in most cases . Almost everyone has experienced this disease, mostly in childhood. The disease leads to lifelong immunity , but shingles can occur as a secondary disease.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of the varicella zoster virus (VZV):

• itchy rash

• Fever

• Headache

• body aches

• nerve pain

Chickenpox is triggered when the varicella-zoster virus is first infected. It is an infectious childhood disease that occurs primarily in kindergarten and early school age. It is a harmless infectious disease that causes annoying symptoms, but usually heals without any complications. A very typical symptom of chickenpox is red blisters all over the body. In most cases, these blisters are very itchy. In some cases, fever also occurs, and headaches are also characteristic.

Once the chickenpox infection is over, the pathogen remains in the body. The viruses sit on certain nerve endings for life and can be reactivated under certain circumstances. If the immune system has been acutely weakened for various reasons, the varicella-zoster virus can become active again. The result is shingles. It is a condition that can cause a rash.

In most cases, severe nerve pain also occurs. People who have never had chickenpox can contract it from shingles patients. However, the risk of infection in the presence of shingles is much lower than in chickenpox.

Diagnose

The diagnosis of a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus is usually very easy to make. Chickenpox has very typical characteristics that are easy for the doctor to recognize. The rash has an absolutely characteristic appearance with its blisters, so that the diagnosis can often be made with the naked eye.

But in the case of the secondary disease caused by varicella-zoster viruses, shingles, the diagnosis is not difficult to make in most cases. The rash that occurs here is also very typical of the disease. The exact description of the symptoms, such as severe pain , gives the doctor additional information about the disease at hand.

treatment and therapy

The treatment of varicella-zoster virus depends on whether it is the primary infection with chickenpox or the secondary infection with shingles. If chickenpox is the result of an infection with the varicella-zoster virus, the therapy is mainly symptomatic. The main focus is on relieving the itching . There are various solutions and tinctures that are applied directly to the vesicles for this purpose.

In addition, cooling compresses can relieve the itching. If the chickenpox is accompanied by a fever, this should be reduced above a certain temperature. For this purpose, preparations such as paracetamol or ibuprofen are used, which have a good antipyretic effect. Chickenpox subsides within about 10 days. If it is a secondary disease with the varicella-zoster virus, in most cases significantly more measures are required, especially with regard to drug treatment.But even with shingles, it is often appropriate to relieve the itching of the rash. Antiviral ointments are often prescribed for this purpose, which are applied directly to the affected area of ​​skin. The therapy is also carried out by taking medication orally. These are so-called antivirals that have the same effect as antibiotics , except that antivirals work against viruses. They prevent the multiplication of the varicella-zoster virus and thus contribute to the healing of the disease. If severe nerve pain occurs during shingles, it must also be treated. Cortisone is very often administered for this purpose.

prevention

It is very difficult to prevent the varicella-zoster virus. Because the virus is highly contagious, infection is often unavoidable. The only prevention is vaccination , which is now being given to more and more children. But even this vaccination does not offer 100% protection against infection. However, if an infection with chickenpox occurs despite vaccination, the symptoms are usually much milder.