• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was performed to describe the clinical manifestations of hospitalized children due to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection Methods: This study included 40 children who were hospitalized for varicella or herpes zoster at Seoul National University Children's Hospital, 2009-2012. Diagnosis of VZV infection was confirmed by VZV PCR or culture from vesicular fluid. Medical records were reviewed to collect clinical features and outcome, antiviral treatment, history of varicella vaccination, and underlying diseases. Results: Sixteen patients with varicella and 24 patients with herpes zoster were included. Their median age was 10.5 years (16 days-19 years). Thirty-five (87.5%) patients had underlying diseases. Among 24 patients with herpes zoster, 11 patients had previous history of varicella and 1 had herpes zoster. Twenty patients (50%) had a history of varicella vaccination, and 19 immunocompromised patients had VZV infection despite of vaccination. Most (95%) patients were treated by intravenous or oral acyclovir, and no treatment failure of intravenous acyclovir was found. The median duration of fever was 4.4 days (1-10 days), and that of antiviral treatment was 12 days (7-23 days) in immunocompromised patients. Immunocompromised patients received longer duration of antiviral treatment than imunocompetent patients (P=0.014). Eleven (27.5 %) immunocompromised patients had postherpetic neuralgia, 2 (5%) had proven co-infection by Streptococcus pyogenes and Klebsiella oxytoca, and 1 (2.5%) complicated with pneumonia. Conclusion: Immunocompromised children require longer duration of treatment and are at risk of severe complication associated with VZV infection. Early initiation of antiviral therapy and close monitoring are necessary for those in immunocompromised conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.27 no.3 s.90
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• pp.237-241
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• 1999

To search for less toxic antiviral agents from Basidiomycetes, the water soluble components (=EA), were isolated from the carpophores of Elfvingia applanata (Pers.) Karst. Anti-varicella zoster virus (Oka strain; anti-VZV/Oka) activity of EA was examined in MRC-5 cells by plaque reduction assay in vitro. And the combined antiviral effects of EA with interferon (IFN) alpha or IFN gamma were examined on the multiplication of VZV/Oka. EA exhibited a dose-dependent reduction in the plaque formation of VZV/Oka with 50% effective concentration $(EC_{50})$ of $464.14\;{\mu}g/ml$. The results of the combination assay were evaluated by the combination index (CI) that was calculated by the multiple drug effect analysis. The combination of EA with IFN alpha showed partially synergistic or additive effects with CI values of $0.83{\sim}1.09$ for 50%, 70%, 90% effective levels, and those with IFN gamma showed antagonism with CI values of $1.20{\sim}1.24$.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.222-230
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• 2017

Background: Varicella is the most common infectious disease reported despite the high vaccination rate. Interventions that target humans are particularly effective for varicella because humans are its only natural host. On the other hand, the existing national varicella surveillance systems lack the information to identify an outbreak. Therefore, a new index to assess varicella outbreaks was developed. Methods: The residential addresses of 2,718 varicella cases reported in Daegu in 2016 were converted to geographic coordinates and the distances between new varicella case and previous cases within 21 days were calculated from the date analyzed. Two cases were considered to be adjacent if the distance between them was less than 1 km. Finally, a proximity index was introduced by dividing the number of adjacent cases by the number of new cases on the date analyzed. Results: First, time-series charts and scatter plots were used to verify that the proximity index reflected the spatial closeness of the different varicella cases. The proximity index is helpful in identifying outbreaks from a list of single varicella cases. In addition, in this study, a new epidemic characteristic of varicella based on the proximity index was shown. Conclusion: The proximity index introduced in this study can be used to determine the likelihood of an outbreak from a single case of varicella, and it can be embedded in a web-based national varicella surveillance system that is currently in operation.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 2007

Herpes zoster is caused when the varicella zoster virus(VZV) that has remained latent since an earlier varicella infection is reactivated with cutaneous and mucous manifestations. They occur in 20% cases in the trigeminal area and typical manifestations are neuralgias simulating dental pain, also vesicles with an erythematous halo located in the territory of the second and third trigemial branch. They erupt on the skin, the lips, tongue, palate and cheeks. With an ever-increasing number of elderly and immunocompromised patients attending the dentist, the dental profession can expect to encounter an increased number of herpes zoster patients. Furthermore, the oral and maxillofacial surgeons must be familiar with the presenting signs and symptoms of patients experiencing the prodromal manifestations and oral complication of herpes zoster of the trigeminal nerve. As presentation of our patient with ulcer on hard palate caused by herpes zoster, current treatment of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia are discussed.

• Korean journal of dermatology
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.531-538
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• 2018

Background: Herpes zoster is a common dermatologic disorder. However, it rarely occurs in children and adolescents in Gwangju-Jeonnam province. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological features and clinical characteristics of herpes zoster in children and adolescents. Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted on patients who visited the department of dermatology of Chosun University Hospital in Gwangju-Jeonnam province within the past 8 years. The medical records of 103 patients aged <18 years were reviewed. We analyzed for age, gender, accompanying symptoms, dermatomal distribution, underlying disease, treatment, and complications with serologic test. Results: The male-to-female ratio of the participants was 1.08:1, and their mean age was 13.0 years. Underlying diseases were observed in 3% (3/102) of the patients. The most common dermatomal distribution was thoracic dermatome (34%), followed by trigeminal (26%), cervical (20%), lumbar (15%), and non-skin (6%). The most common accompanying symptoms were headache (10%), fever (3%), and myalgia (3%). No difference was observed between patients who were varicella-zoster virus (VZV) IgM-positive and those who were VZV IgM-negative in terms of dermatome, visual analogue scale (VAS), severity, and body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: In children and adolescents with herpes zoster, the gender ratio and dermatomal distribution were similar to those previously reported, except for the low rate of underlying diseases. The incidence of herpes zoster in children was not significantly associated with immunosuppression and underlying diseases. Higher VZV IgM titer was not associated with dermatomal distribution, higher VAS score, or BMI. This study first compared the serological test results of children.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 2010

Herpes zoster (HZ) is the secondary manifestation of an earlier infection with the varicella-zoster virus in one or more dermatomes. As reactivation of the virus is linked to an age-related diminished virus-specific and cell-mediated immunity, HZ develops mainly in elderly people. Acute zoster is painful, but does not incur lasting morbidity. Reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus in the trigeminal nerve (Herpes zoster) occur with severe pain and rash in the oro-facial region. The acute pain decreases as the rash begins to heal. Postherpetic neuralgia(PHN), the most frequent complication of herpes zoster, is usually defined as pain in the involved dermatome that is still present 3 month after rash onset. The clinical characteristics of PHN are, eposodic stabbing pain, burning pain and allodynia, with hypoesthesia and/or dysesthesia. $Neurometer^{(R)}$(neuroselective sensory nerve conduction threshold: sNCT, Automated current perception threshold: CPT, neurotron incorporated. Baltimore, Maryland. 21209 U.S.A.) is convenient, rapid and noninvasive, and allows objective assessment of sensory disturbance. This case is about the postherptic neuralgia patient assessed with $Neurometer^{(R)}$. From this case, we reviewed the pathophysiology and the treatment of PHN and recommend the assessment of pain intensity with $Neurometer^{(R)}$ as quantitative and objective method.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.74-76
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• 2013

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.108-111
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• 2011

Herpes zoster as a result of reactivated varicella-zoster virus is characterized by vesicular eruptions on skin and painful neuralgia in the dermatome distribution. Pain during an acute phase of herpes zoster has been associated with a higher risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia. The current therapies for herpes zoster including analgesics and sympathetic nerve block as well as antiviral agents are important to alleviate pain and prevent postherpetic neuralgia. However, in some cases, the pain does not respond well to these treatments. We had a case in which a patient with herpes zoster did not respond to conventional therapy so we attempted to administer intravenous infusion of vitamin C which resulted in an immediate reduction in the pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.266-269
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• 1997

Herpes zoster is a relatively common disease caused by Varicella-Zoster virus and characterized by a vesicular dermatomal rash and a variety of neurologic manifestations. These neurologic symptoms include herpes zoster neuralgia, myelitis, encephalitis, cranial arteritis, segmental and rarely polyradiculitis. This report is a case of a 57-year-old female with herpes zoster paresis affecting the arm and hand. Herpetic pain was much relieved after continuous cervical epidural blockade. However, fifty days after onset of ailment, she complained motor paralysis. EMG of muscles innervated by the left $C_8$ and $T_1$ roots revealed high frequency denervation potentials and large amplitude polyphasic motor units. We recommended physiotherapy and aggressive exercise therapy of the hand. After eighty days of therapy, denervated spontaneous activities disappeared on EMG. Clinically, strength of muscles had nearly recovered to 75% of normal strength in left hand intrinsics.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.377-382
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• 2008

Purpose : The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of skin test by an inactivated, 1/50 diluted solution of attenuated varicella vaccine in evaluating the immune status to varicella. Methods : Total 41 subjects (22 males, 19 females, aged 1-32 years) were enrolled from July to August, 2005. Past medical history including varicella infection, varicella vaccination were investigated through questionnaires. The skin test solution was prepared from solution of attenuated varicella vaccine(Oka strain) which was inactivated by exposure to room temperature for 10 days and diluted at 1/50 with normal saline. Skin test was done by injecting 0.1 mL of the solution intradermally into the volar surface of the right forearm and sterile normal saline was used as a control on the left forearm. Positive reaction was defined when the transverse diameter of the induration was 5 mm or more. Serum varicella zoster virus specific IgG antibody test by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) was done. Results : In adults, the sensitivity of the varicella zoster virus skin test compared to ELISA was 94.7% and the positive predictive value was 100%. In children, both the positive predictive value and specificity were 100% but the sensitivity and the negative predictive value were 50% and 30.7% respectively. Children showed smaller skin test reactivity compared to adults. Conclusion : The varicella zoster virus skin test using inactivated, 1/50 diluted solution of attenuated varicella vaccine was proved as one of the useful tools for evaluating the immunity and susceptibility of the varicella zoster virus.