Other name of Herpes Zoster infection is?

RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2016

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2016

Explanation

Shingles is the common name for Herpes Zoster.
Herpes Zoster is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is the same virus that causes chickenpox (varicella).
After a primary chickenpox infection, the virus lies dormant in the dorsal root ganglia and can reactivate later in life, typically due to a weakened immune system.
The reactivation results in a painful, blistering rash that typically appears in a single stripe (dermatome) on one side of the body.

Option A: Shigella is a genus of bacteria that causes an intestinal infection called shigellosis (a form of dysentery), not a viral skin infection.
Option C: Varicella is the medical term for chickenpox, which is the primary infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Herpes Zoster (Shingles) is the reactivation of this virus, not the primary infection.
Option D: Variola is the name of the virus that causes smallpox, a completely different and more severe viral disease that has been globally eradicated. It is not related to the varicella-zoster virus.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Synonyms and etiology of viral infections helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses must be able to differentiate between Shingles (Herpes Zoster) and other skin conditions to ensure proper isolation precautions (contact precautions until lesions are crusted over) and timely administration of antiviral medication.
Patient education is a key nursing role, including explaining the nature of the virus, managing pain, preventing secondary bacterial infections, and advising on the shingles vaccine (e.g., Shingrix) for eligible adults (typically age 50 and older) to prevent reactivation.
What if? If a patient with a Shingles-like rash has lesions that cross the midline of the body, the nurse should consider that this might not be typical shingles and could indicate a more severe, disseminated infection or a different diagnosis. This finding warrants immediate physician notification, especially in an immunocompromised patient.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core term in the question: 'Herpes Zoster'.
The question asks for an 'other name', which implies a common synonym.
Scan the options to find a familiar name associated with Herpes Zoster.
Recall or deduce the relationship between different viral names. Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) causes two diseases: Varicella (chickenpox) and Herpes Zoster (shingles).
Eliminate unrelated options: 'Shigella' is a bacterium, and 'Variola' is the smallpox virus.
Differentiate between 'Varicella' (primary infection) and 'Shingles' (reactivation). Since the question is about Herpes Zoster, 'Shingles' is the correct synonym.

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