Prolonged herpes zoster in a patient infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

In 1983, varicella zoster virus (VZV) disease was first recognized in the context of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since that time, there have been many reports discussing the occurrence and clinical manifestations of hepes zoster in HIV-infected patients. We describe the development of prolonged herpes zoster in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) over the course of 104 days. Viral isolates at the three different clinical stages of the skin lesions were sensitive in vitro to acyclovir, and supposed to be a same strain by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. We also discuss an effective treatment for prolonged cases of zoster.