HERPES ZOSTER CASE PRESENTING WITH PAIN AND A BURNING SENSATION AT THE LEFT HIP

Tuba Tülay KOCA*, MD; Tolga Ba?lan, MD; Gülbahar Saraç, MD;

ABSTRACT

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a member of herpes virus family; it generally presents with a generalized, vesicular rash. HZ develops throughreactivation of dormant VZ virus in the spinal and cranial ganglions. A 38-year-old male patient was admitted to our clinic with symptoms of pain at the left inguinal and hip areas and a burning sensation radiating to his thigh. In the follow-up appointment a week later, the patient stated that he hadobtained no relieffrom the medical treatment and painful, mildly itchy blisters appeared in his left inguinal area. In the physical examination,clusters of millimetric vesicles were observed at the left inguinal area, in the lumbosacral junctional area of his back, and the left lower anterior side of abdomen. When atraumatic joint symptoms appearduring adulthood, presence of HZ infection should be considered a possible cause, and the patient should be questioned about skin lesions. The disease rarely becomes lifethreatening. The current approach to the HZ comprisesantiviral agents and analgesics, and the desired results are frequently achieved in young patients with mild infection.

Keywords: herpes zoster, hip pain, sciatica.