Clinical Characterization of Patients with Herpes Zoster

Abstract

Introduction: Herpes zoster is an acute viral disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. In Cuba, there is a tendency to its increase, related to the aging population, the incidence of malignant tumors, and infection by the human immunodeficiency virus. Objective: To characterize patients with herpes zoster. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Luis Li Trijent Polyclinic from September 2023 to September 2024. The study included 64 patients who attended the Dermatology Clinic and were diagnosed with herpes zoster through clinical methods. They expressed their willingness to participate in the study through informed consent, after being explained what it entailed and the confidentiality of the results. The variables studied were: age, sex, anatomical location, predisposing factors, and complications. Descriptive statistics procedures were performed for each variable through percentage calculation. Results: The 70 to 79 age group provided the highest number of patients with 34.3%, and 53.1% were women. The intercostal form occurred in 60.9% of patients. In 53.1%, the precipitating cause was stress, and postherpetic neuralgia occurred in 18.7%. Conclusions: Herpes zoster is a viral disease that most frequently affects adults subjected to stress or other causes of immunosuppression, especially in the thoracic region. Postherpetic neuralgia predominates as a complication of HZ in the studied series.