Herpes zoster (or simply zoster), commonly known as shingles and also known as zona, is a viral disease.

The initial infection with varicella zoster virus causes the acute (short-lived) illness chickenpox.

Herpes zoster is a viral disease characterized by:

• a painful skin rash with blisters

• headache• fever• malaise• sensations of burning

pain• itching

Most people are infected with this virus as children, and suffer from an episode of chickenpox.

The causative agent for herpes zoster is varicella zoster virus.

If the rash has appeared, identifying this disease requires only a visual examination.

When the rash is absent herpes zoster can be difficult to diagnose.

Laboratory tests are available to diagnose herpes zoster.

In larger laboratories, lymph collected from a blister is examined with an electron microscope for virus particles.

The vaccine that is used in the United States against the varicella zoster virus is Zostavax.

The vaccine was officially recommended in the U.S. for healthy adults aged 60 and over.

1. "Herpes Zoster." Wikipedia.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_zoster>

2. “Varicella Zoster Virus”. Buzzle.<http://www.buzzle.com/articles/varicella-

zoster-virus.html>