A 75 year old woman presents with severe burning pain
and a vesicular rash covering a strip over the rib cage on one side
of the chest she is diagnosed with herpes zoster or shingles.
1. What is the source of this woman's rash and pain?
2. Explain the dermatomal distribution of the lesions.
1). The source of woman's rash and pain is inflammation caused by herpes zoster or shingles virus.
Herpes Zoster (Shingles): Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the causative agent of chickenpox and herpes zoster. After initial exposure to the virus, it causes chickenpox, and then the virus remains dormant in the sensory nerve roots. The virus migrates to the skin through the sensory nerves, which causes a dermatological rash with pain. This painful rash is characteristic of shingles.
2). The dermatomal distribution of the lesions occurs along the path of a single spinal nerve. So, the rash appears as a band-like pattern, typically on one side of the body.
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