The others produce localized lesions and systemic reactions. After the first infection , a patient is a carrier susceptible to recurrent infections , which may be provoked by fever, menses, stress, heat, and cold. However in recurrent infections, the patient usually has no constitutional signs and symptoms. Herpes is equally common in males and females. Herpes Zoster is an acute unilateral and segmental inflammation of the dorsal root ganglia caused by infection with the herpesvirus varicella-zoster, which also causes chicken pox .
Prognosis is good unless the infection spreads to the brain.
Eventually, most patients recover completely, except for possible scarring and, in corneal damage, visual impairment. Occasionally, neuralgia may persist for months or years. Herpes zoster results from reactivation of varicella virus that has lain dormant in the cerebral ganglia or the ganglia of posterior nerve roots since a previous episode of chicken pox. It is thought that the virus multiplies as it is reactivated and that it is neutralized by antibodies remaining from initial infection. But if effective antibodies aren't present, the virus continues to multiply in the ganglia, destroy the host neuron, and spread down the sensory nerves to the skin.