herpes zoster

Definition

An acute viral inflammation of the sensory ganglia of spinal and cranial nerves associated with a vesicular eruption and neuralgic pains, caused by reactivation of the Human herpes virus 3, in genus Varicellovirus, that also causes chicken pox as primoinfection.

Example Sentences

• "From the description, Letha felt sure Jane had herpes zoster, or shingles, which often strikes cancer patients or others with depressed immune systems. Jane spent another week in the Bubble, treated with acyclovir."