Varicella Zoster Case Studies

The varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox and herpes zosters. Primary infection from exposure through direct contact with a skin lesion or through airborne respiratory droplets leads to chickenpox, usually seen in children. After the initial infection, the virus is latent in the cranial nerve and dorsal root ganglia, and can reactivate later in life as herpes zoster (HZ), also called shingles. Shingles has a household transmission rate of 15% while chickenpox has an 85% risk of transmission to a susceptible sibling, making it significantly more contagious (Weaver, 2009). Chickenpox symptoms include: symptoms similar to a cold and crops of blisters that transforms into a rash. When shingles is reactivated prodromal pain and itching
Despite the worldwide use of a live attenuated vaccine and several antibiotics TB kills two million people each year (Smith, 2003). The mycobacterium settles and grows in the lungs initially. However, from there they are able to move through the blood to other parts of the body, such as the central nervous system and other organs. TB bacteria can only be spread through the air. Symptoms of TB in the lungs are a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer, pain in the chest, and coughing up blood or phlegm. Individuals with latent TB cannot spread the infection, do not have any symptoms, and do not feel sick. In countries where TB is common, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine used for protection. When a person is being treated for TB it is very important that they take the drug exactly as prescribed because if they stop taking the drug too soon the bacteria can become resistant to the drug. When the bacteria become resistant to the drugs it is much more difficult to treat and is more expensive. Some of the FDA approved anti-TB medications includes: treatisoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF, ethambutol (EMB), and pyrazinamide (PZA) and should be taken for 6 to 9 months (Smith,