Laryngeal paralysis due to generalized varicella virus infection – a case report

The presence of herpetic infection in the larynx is rare. Herpes zoster is an acute viral disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. The zoster virus is the same as the varicella virus. Varicella is a primary infection of an unimmunized organism and remains in the body for life in the area of the posterior sensitive roots of the spinal ganglia. Reactivation of the virus or reinfection of an already immunized organism causes herpes zoster. Varicella zoster virus is included in the group of alphaviruses, its size is 150–200 nanometers. We present the case of a 67-year-old man with a history of throat pain, hoarseness, difficulty of swallowing, without the presence of skin effusion for several days. On objective examination found the paralysis of the left hemilaryngeus. On the 6th day, there was a generalized sowing of tiny vesicles on the body and a herpetic sowing on the mucosa of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx. Infection with the varicella zoster virus has been confirmed serologically and by the PCR method from vesicles swabs. Despite complex therapy, the patient still has left hemilaryngeal paralysis after 3 months. Keywords: dysphagia – herpes zoster virus – laryngeal paralysis – aciclovir