Herpes zoster infection with meningitis after prodromal symptom presented as toothache

Abstract

Herpes zoster virus (HZV) infection is reactivation of Varicella Zoster virus that entered into the dorsal root ganglia during prior chicken pox infection, then remained in a latent form. HZV is characterized by its typical unilateral vesicles and rash along with a dermatome involvement. In its early stage, the only symptom may be prodromal odontalgia. Therefore, the difficulty in its diagnosis may lead to delayed HZV treatment as well as unnecessary dental procedures. A case of HZV infection of the trigeminal nerve branch is presented here, which was not properly diagnosed at the initial examination, but later confirmed as HZV infection with meningitis.