[Varicella zoster virus infection involving the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve].

Herpes zoster is an infection caused by reactivation of the latent varicella virus in the sensory ganglia. The mechanisms responsible for Varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation are poorly understood. Yet, it is believed that decreased cellular immunity can be a trigger for it's reactivation. The occurrence of herpes zoster in young people may point to an underlying immunodeficiency. Therefore, the possibility of concomitant HIV infection must be eliminated. Herpes zoster manifests as a vesicular rash along a sensory dermatome, usually preceded by pain or paresthesia of the involved cutaneous area. The most commonly affected dermatomes are those of the thorax and abdomen, followed by the cranial nerves, especially the trigeminal nerve. The maxillary nerve is the least frequently affected branch of the trigeminal nerve and only rarely causes ocular injury. This is a case history of a young patient infected with VZV involving the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve, complicated by secondary bacterial infection of the ipsilateral hemiface. The literature regarding the epidemiology, pathogenesis, complications and the proper treatment of herpes zoster is reviewed with an emphasis on the involvement of cranial nerves.