New study findings assessed the clinical presentation, risk factors, and importance of early recognition and treatment of disseminated herpes zoster (DHZ) in immunocompetent patients, as well as highlight the effectiveness of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) vaccination in reducing the risk of this severe complication.1
Image credit: Cristina | stock.adobe.com
DHZ is a serious complication of VZV reactivation, typically affecting immunocompromised individuals and older individuals. It can present with a non-dermatomal rash and involve multiple organs, including the lungs, brain, and liver.1 According to the CDC, DHZ can be challenging to differentiate from VZV, but typically presents as skin eruptions where the lesions occur outside of the primary or adjacent dermatomes. Additionally, individuals with DHZ that are…