Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of plates
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- SECTION 1 INDIVIDUAL VIRUSES
- Introduction to virology
- 1 Adenoviruses
- 2 Arboviruses and haemorrhagic fever viruses
- 3 Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- 4 Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)
- 5 Enteroviruses
- 6 Hepatitis A virus (HAV)
- 7 Hepatitis B and D viruses (HBV and HDV)
- 8 Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
- 9 Hepatitis E virus (HEV)
- 10 Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
- 11 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- 12 Human herpes viruses types 6, 7 and 8 (HHV 6, 7 and 8)
- 13 Human T-cell leukaemia virus (HTLV)
- 14 Influenza viruses
- 15 Measles virus
- 16 Mumps virus
- 17 Noroviruses
- 18 Parainfluenza viruses
- 19 Papilloma and polyoma viruses
- 20 Parvovirus B19
- 21 Pox viruses
- 22 Rabies virus
- 23 Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- 24 Rhinoviruses
- 25 Rotavirus
- 26 Rubella virus
- 27 SARS CoV and other coronaviruses
- 28 Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
- SECTION 2 OTHER RELATED AGENTS
- SECTION 3 CLINICAL SYNDROMES
- SECTION 4 DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
- SECTION 5 PATIENT MANAGEMENT
- Index
- Plate section
28 - Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of plates
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- SECTION 1 INDIVIDUAL VIRUSES
- Introduction to virology
- 1 Adenoviruses
- 2 Arboviruses and haemorrhagic fever viruses
- 3 Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- 4 Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)
- 5 Enteroviruses
- 6 Hepatitis A virus (HAV)
- 7 Hepatitis B and D viruses (HBV and HDV)
- 8 Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
- 9 Hepatitis E virus (HEV)
- 10 Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
- 11 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- 12 Human herpes viruses types 6, 7 and 8 (HHV 6, 7 and 8)
- 13 Human T-cell leukaemia virus (HTLV)
- 14 Influenza viruses
- 15 Measles virus
- 16 Mumps virus
- 17 Noroviruses
- 18 Parainfluenza viruses
- 19 Papilloma and polyoma viruses
- 20 Parvovirus B19
- 21 Pox viruses
- 22 Rabies virus
- 23 Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- 24 Rhinoviruses
- 25 Rotavirus
- 26 Rubella virus
- 27 SARS CoV and other coronaviruses
- 28 Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
- SECTION 2 OTHER RELATED AGENTS
- SECTION 3 CLINICAL SYNDROMES
- SECTION 4 DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
- SECTION 5 PATIENT MANAGEMENT
- Index
- Plate section
Summary
The virus
Varicella-zoster virus is a double-stranded DNA virus and a member of the Herpesviridae family of viruses.
Epidemiology
Route of spread
Varicella-zoster virus is transmitted by the airborne route, from respiratory secretions and from vesicles on the skin. After entry through the respiratory route there is an initial period of viraemia, which seeds the virus in the reticulo-endothelial system. This is followed by a second episode of viraemia resulting in dissemination of the virus throughout the body and manifestations of the typical chickenpox vesicular rash on the skin surface.
Prevalence
Varicella-zoster virus infection occurs worldwide and the prevalence of infection varies considerably. While 95% of people in industrialized countries have had chickenpox by the age of 20 years (although about 20% will have had such a mild infection that they may be unaware of this), in the tropics, only 50% of people have had chickenpox by the age of 20 years.
Incubation period
10–23 days (mean 14 days).
Infectious period
From 2 days before the onset of symptoms until 5 days after the rash or all the skin lesions are fully crusted.
At-risk groups
Immunocompromised persons
Pregnant women
Unborn babies in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, and babies one week before or after delivery.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Clinical and Diagnostic Virology , pp. 116 - 120Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009