title: Mandibular osteomyelitis and tooth exfoliation following zoster-CMV co-infection.
abstract: Herpes zoster is a common viral infection, the oral soft tissue manifestations of which are widely known and recognized. Reports of spontaneous tooth exfoliation and jaw osteonecrosis following herpes zoster infection in the distribution of the trigeminal nerve are extremely infrequent and sporadic, with only 39 cases being reported in the literature. We report an additional case of mandibular osteomyelitis and spontaneous tooth exfoliation following herpes zoster infection, which occurred in the left mandible of a 70-year-old diabetic man; however, our case also showed CMV co-infection. The role of CMV in the pathogenesis of the osteonecrosis remains uncertain. Awareness of the possibility of CMV co-infection in various oral diseases including oral ulcers, Kaposi's sarcoma, and herpes zoster infections especially in immunocompromised patients is important, since spread of the CMV can easily occur to other sites with potentially fatal consequences. Early diagnosis can lead to effective treatment and prevention of complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Anatomical Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. shabnum.meer@nhls.ac.za
authors.forename: Shabnum
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meer
authors.forename: Hedley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altini
authors.forename: Terence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology*; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000150:complications; D015163:Superinfection; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D020433:Trigeminal Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications