"Snake wrapped around waist"-herpes zoster

There is a folk disease called "snake around the waist" and medically called "herpes zoster".

Herpes zoster is caused by varicella-zoster virus, which is characterized by aggregated small blisters distributed along unilateral peripheral nerves or chest, abdomen and waist, often accompanied by obvious neuralgia. It is difficult for varicella-zoster virus to grow in vitro, but it can only proliferate in human cells, slowly producing focal lesions. The virus can cause chickenpox when it invades children, and herpes zoster when it invades adults and the elderly.

Herpes virus can lurk for a long time without causing symptoms after it enters the human body with nerves. Years later, when the body's immunity declines or is stimulated by some inducing factors such as cold and trauma, the virus becomes active, causing inflammation of ganglia, forming blisters on the skin where the corresponding ganglia are distributed, and causing neuralgia. The most common blisters are mainly concentrated in the chest, abdomen or waist, commonly known as "snake wrapped around the waist".

The incidence of this disease is high in summer and autumn, and symptoms of low fever and fatigue often appear in the early stage of the disease. There is pain or burning sensation in the part where blisters will occur, and herpes zoster of trigeminal nerve on the face can cause toothache. At the initial stage of herpes, the facial skin is irregular or oval erythema. A few hours later, blisters appeared on the erythema, which gradually increased and could contain blisters. The damage of blisters generally does not exceed the midline, and the damage of oral mucosa is limited to unilateral failure to cross the midline. Facial herpes zoster healing generally does not leave scars, but there may be sequelae of neuralgia after herpes healing in the elderly, and some may last for more than half a year.

The varicella-zoster virus is highly contagious and can be directly infected, especially through inhalation. Life-long immunity after the disease is cured will not happen again, except for those with individual immunodeficiency.

Treatment:

Mainly: 1. Antiviral drugs, acyclovir, valaciclovir. 2. Immunomodulatory drugs, transfer factors, cimetidine, immunoglobulin. 3. Analgesics, carbamazepine. 4. Neurotrophic drugs, vitamin B, vitamin B 12. 5. Glucocorticoid. 6. Oral mucosal lesions can be rinsed with disinfection and sterilization drugs, such as tetracycline solution, chlorhexidine or potassium permanganate mouthwash, watermelon frost, etc.