THE PARALYTIC COMPLICATIONS OF HERPES ZOSTER OF THE CEPHALIC EXTREMITY

Abstract

Idiopathic or true herpes zoster is an acute infectious disease characterized by general symptoms; fever, headache and great prostration and a focal manifestation; an eruption of herpes zoster on the skin and mucous membranes. The characteristic pathologic changes are found in the posterior spinal ganglia and in the Gasserian ganglion(posterior poliomyelitis). These structures are derivatives of the so-called neural ridge, and the ganglion cells having this origin belong to the so-called unipolar or spinal type. The geniculate ganglion, the ganglia of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves, as well as the auditory ganglia (theganglionofScarpaand theganglion spirale) also take their origin from the neural ridge, and as such must be brought within the realm of the specific ganglionic inflammation of herpes zoster. The affected ganglion is the seat of an hemorrhagic inflammation which gives rise to pains (herpetic neuralgia), objective sensory disturbances and an eruption of