Herpes Zoster with oral manifestations in an eleven year old

Herpes zoster is an infection caused by reactivation of the latent varicella virus in the sensory ganglia. Herpes zoster manifests as a vesicular rash along a sensory dermatome, usually proceeded by pain or paresthesia of the involved cutaneous area. The maxillary and mandibular divisions of the nerve are the least frequently affected branches of the trigeminal nerve and only rarely causes oral manifestations. This is a rare case of a young patient infected with varicella zoster virus involving the maxillary and mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve of the ipsilateral hemiface, with the oral manifestations. The literature regarding the epidemiology, pathogenesis, complications and the proper treatment of herpes zoster is reviewed with an emphasis on the involvement of oral manifestations.