[Clinical picture and pathogenesis of generalized forms of herpes zoster].

Clinical examination of 83 patients with generalized herpes zoster has given the authors grounds to regard this disease as a result of activation of latent varicella-zoster virus. This assumption was confirmed by the results of indirect hemagglutination inhibition tests with 37 serum specimens taken from 18 patients. Treatment with antibiotics, the drug proper-myl, and by dehydration was the more effective, the earlier the patients were admitted to the clinic. Dehydration, proper-myl and combination of chloramphenicol with dehydration produced a more beneficial effect than the antibiotic alone. Five patients died. Problems of pathogenesis are discussed.