Atypical Presentation of Aseptic Meningitis Due to Varicella Zoster: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) meningitis is primarily an infection of the immuno-compromised. However, it can also affect immunocompetent individuals. Reactivation of VZV typically presents with a distinct dermatomal rash suggestive of varicella zoster, but there have also been reports of VZV meningitis presenting without a rash. Case Report: We describe a case of VZV meningitis in a healthy, 30-year-old male presenting to the emergency department shortly after receiving his first coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination. He was treated with intravenous acyclovir and then discharged home on oral valacyclovir. Conclusion: Emergency physicians should consider aseptic meningitis in immunocompetent patients presenting with atypical headaches in this population.

Disseminated herpes zoster with varicella encephalitis and pneumonia following ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine in an immunocompetent male-a case report

“…We conducted a PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS search using the keywords “zoster encephalitis”, “zoster meningitis”, “SARS-CoV-2 vaccine” and “varicella zoster” and found 11 reports of zoster meningitis cases following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the literature [ [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] ]. There was significant heterogeneity in the time taken for the symptoms to manifest after vaccination, with durations ranging from five to forty-one days.…”