title: Herpes zoster of gingiva in an older woman: a rare case report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the article is to highlight the distinguishing features of secondary varicella gingival infection in an older women.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Herpes zoster is an acute sporadic, painful viral infection in older people caused by the reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus. Herpes zoster affecting the gingiva without any dermal lesions is a rare pathological condition that mimics many intraoral vesiculobullous lesions. The ambiguous nature of this condition creates a diagnostic dilemma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 58-year-old woman presented with an acute, unilateral and persistent burning sensation and pain in the gingiva with desqaumating vesicullobulous lesion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The women was diagnosed with secondary varicella zoster infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Herpes zoster of the gingiva could manifest as painful desquamative vesicular lesions, pulpal or other painful neuralgic condition in older individuals which need careful diagnosis before formulating appropiate treatment plan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Aditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Karthik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sivaraman
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of dentistry, MAHSA University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Betsy S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir
keywords: craniofacial pain; herpes virus infections; herpes viruses; periodontitis.; varicella zoster virus