The History of Zoster

Herpes zoster, or shingles, is the reactivation of the chicken pox virus that can lead to pain and a rash. Zoster has been studied for centuries by many physicians and scientists dating back to ancient times.

Definition

• Once a person has had chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the nerve roots. Herpes zoster is the reactivation of that virus. The disease usually recurs in older or immuno-compromised persons after exposure to someone with chickenpox.

Pox vs. Zoster

• Zoster has been recorded back in Greek and ancient times. At that time, it was difficult to distinguish small pox from zoster. In the late eighteenth century, William Heberden, a scientist, described zoster lesions and methods to distinguish them from smallpox. Dr. William Osler, a famous physician, also wrote that the two disease processes were quite different. Infection with one did not prevent infection from the other.

Scientific Advances

• In 1831, Richard Bright first proposed a link between herpes zoster and the nerves. In 1861, Felix von Barensprung did the first autopsy confirming damage to the nerve root. Henry Head and AW Campbell, pathologist, studied herpes zosters and did 21 autopsy cases. Their investigation studied the nerve roots and showed nerve damage that correlated with herpes zoster.