Herpes zoster infection with meningitis after prodromal symptom presented as toothache

Cho, Ju-Yeon

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 59(1); 2021 > Article

CASE REPORT

The Journal of The Korean Dental Association 2021;59(1):28-35.
Published online December 31, 2020.

Herpes zoster infection with meningitis after prodromal symptom presented as toothache

Ju-Yeon Cho

Department of Dentistry, Dongsan Hospital, Keimyung University School of Medicine

Correspondence: Ju-Yeon Cho, Tel: +82-53-258-4681,
Email: cipher01@dsmc.or.kr

Received: 10 July 2020 • Revised: 4 September 2020 • Accepted: 18 September 2020

Abstract

Herpes zoster virus (HZV) infection is reactivation of Varicella Zoster virus that entered into the dorsal root ganglia during prior chicken pox infection, then remained in a latent form. HZV is characterized by its typical unilateral vesicles and rash along with a dermatome involvement. In its early stage, the only symptom may be prodromal odontalgia. Therefore, the difficulty in its diagnosis may lead to delayed HZV treatment as well as unnecessary dental procedures. A case of HZV infection of the trigeminal nerve branch is presented here, which was not properly diagnosed at the initial examination, but later confirmed as HZV infection with meningitis.

Key Words: Herpes zoster; virus; trigeminal; meningitis