ABSTRACT
Background: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infections are common and contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected patients. This study was conducted to determine the level of exposure, compare the gender distribution pattern and correlate with CD4 count, history of chicken pox and demographics among HIV patients. Methodology: Blood samples were collected from 273 randomly selected HIV-positive patients (93 males and 180 females) receiving care and management at the General Hospital Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria, between September 2019 and March 2020, after obtaining informed consent. Sera were separated from the blood samples and tested for the presence of VZV-specific IgG antibodies using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results: The seroprevalence rate of VZV in the selected HIV patients was 76.9% (210/273), which was similar in both male (83.9%, 78/93) and female (73.3%, 132/180) patients (χ 2=3.265, p=0.071). The seroprevalence rates of VZV in both male and female patients were significantly associated with marital status, occupational status, and CD4+ cell count (p<0.05), however, age group was not significantly associated with VZV seroprevalence in both male (χ2=8.014, p=0.155) and female (χ2=4.689, p=0.455) patients. The seroprevalence of VZV in males (32%) who reported history of chicken pox was about twice that of females (17.4%) (OR=2.235, 95% CI=1.162-4.302, p=0.023). Conclusion: The level of exposure of HIV-infected individuals to VZV in Offa, Nigeria is high and is similarly distributed in both male and female genders. However, more males with VZV exposure reported history of chicken pox (acute infection) than their female counterparts.
Subject(s)
Humans , HIV Seroprevalence , Indicators of Morbidity and Mortality , Varicella Zoster Virus Infection , HIV , Gender EquityABSTRACT
Herpes zoster or Shingles is caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chicken-pox (varicella). Primary infection with varicella-zoster virus causes chicken-pox (varicella), then the virus persists in nerve ganglia of sensory but rarely motor nerves, in a latent stage.If the virus gets reactivated it causes herpes zoster, which presents as painful vesicles following a dermatome. It is more common in the elderly and the immunocompromised. Herpes zoster is a common skin and mucous membrane disease caused by reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus, which had lodged previously in nerve ganglia. Trigeminal nerve nuclei and thoracic spinal ganglia are the most commonly affected. Reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus can be triggered by old age, that is why herpes zoster is common in the elderly, above 60 years of age. This is due to age related decline in specific cell mediated immune response to VZV. Other triggering factors are malignancies malnutrition, emotional stress, physical trauma, chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus and immunosuppression from drugs and HIV.¹,²