TITLE:
Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Diagnosed by an ENT Specialist during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Report
AUTHORS:
Rinor Ajeti, Afrim Ajeti, Vesna Petreska Dukovska
KEYWORDS:
Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus, Varicella-Zoster Virus, ENT Diagnosis, COVID-19, Antiviral Therapy
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery,
Vol.14 No.4,
July
15,
2025
ABSTRACT: Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus (HZO), caused by varicella-zoster virus reactivation in the ophthalmic trigeminal nerve, presents with unilateral facial pain and vesicular rash. This report describes a 60-year-old woman who developed Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus during the COVID-19 pandemic. She presented to an ENT clinic with right forehead pain and a vesicular rash sparing the nasal tip, without Hutchinson’s sign or visual deficits. Diagnosed clinically, she received high-dose oral acyclovir and corticosteroids, leading to symptom resolution within four weeks. At five-year follow-up, no ocular complications or sequelae were observed. The case underscores the role of ENT specialists in managing Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus during healthcare crises, emphasizing antiviral therapy initiated within 72 hours of symptom onset to prevent vision-threatening complications when specialist referrals are delayed.