Herpes Zoster Health, Medicine, Nursing Essay Paper (Essay Sample)

Herpes Zoster
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Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
Herpes Zoster (HZ) is possibly a debilitating neurotropic ailment. It results from neural reactivations of the latent varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox (varicella) as a primary disease (Harrison, 2017). It is ordinarily localized but can it disseminate to visceral organs. Lesion and other clinical features, as well as viral isolation, aid the diagnosis of this disease. The chances of the occurrence of shingles disease increase rapidly after the age of 50. This fact is attributed to the decline in cell-mediated immunity. Notably, the ailment is also more rampant among people with immunosuppressive conditions. Various studies in Australia show that almost 70% of the cases of HZ occur after 50 years of age among adults aged 22 years and above (Medical Journal of Australia, 2019). Furthermore, half of those who attain the age of 85 suffer at least one episode of HZ. Moreover, reports have described age-dependent incidences of HZ in the past in Australia. Between 2000 and 2006, the rate was estimated at 2.5 and 10 per 1000 people respectively for the age groups below 50 years and 50 years and above. Indeed, studies around the world point to a similar trend. Herpes zoster is known to cause a severe complication referred to as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is the reason for the high morbidity associated with the disease. PHN has been found to occur in at least a third of HZ hospitalized patients. Amongst the immunocompetent adults, it occurs in those in their 50s and rises with the increase in age. The management of shingles and its resultant complications causes an immense social and economic burden on the health systems of Australia as well as the affected communities. It is estimated that the disease demands over $33 million yearly. This financial burden is more significant compared to that occasioned by varicella. Indeed, it causes more hospitalization with PNH complications being rampant among the affected persons.
Pathophysiology