PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - K-C Lin
AU  - Che-Chuan Wang
AU  - Kai-Yuan Wang
AU  - Yi-Chen Liao
AU  - Jinn-Rung Kuo
TI  - Reactivation of herpes zoster along the trigeminal nerve with intractable pain after facial trauma: a case report and literature review
AID  - 10.1136/bcr.07.2008.0525
DP  - 2009 Jan 01
TA  - BMJ Case Reports
PG  - bcr0720080525
VI  - 2009
4099  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2009/bcr.07.2008.0525.short
4100  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2009/bcr.07.2008.0525.full
AB  - We report the rare occurrence of herpes zoster reactivation after facial trauma. Herpes zoster appeared in painful groups of distended vesicles containing clear fluid on an erythematous base within the secondary division of the trigeminal nerve. The patient was treated with acyclovir (intravenous, 250 mg, every 8 hours) combined with topical steroids and anti-neuropathic pain medication. The zoster-associated neuralgia subsided gradually 1.5 months after diagnosis. We illustrate this unique case to highlight the fact that reactivation of the varicella zoster virus from childhood chicken pox can reappear at a traumatic site in late adulthood.