Herpes

(her’-pez) [ep-rrjc; epireiv, to creep]. An acute inflammatory affection of the skin or mucous membrane, characterized by the development of groups of vesicles on an inflammatory base. H. circinatus. See Tinea circinata. H. facial is, herpes febrilis; an acute, noncontagious, inflammatory disorder of the skin that appears in the form of one or more groups of vesicles. It is commonly called fever-blisters, a fonn of herpes appearing especially on the lips. It is frequent in “cold,” malaria, croupous pneumonia, and cerebrospinal meningitis. H. febrilis. See H. facial is. H. Iris, a form of erythema with vesicles growing in a ring. It is usually seen on the backs of the hands and feet. H. labial is. See H. facial is. H. preputial is, H. pro genital is, a form of herpes in which vesicles occur upon the glans and prepuce, from the size of a pin’s head to that of a small pea. H. tonsurans. See Tinea tonsurans. H. zoster, zoster, zona, shingles, ignis sacer; herpes in which the lesions are distributed in relation to the course of a cutaneous nerve, and, as a rule, unilateral. They are usually seen in the line of the intercostal nerves, but may follow the course of any nerve. The outbreak of the eruption is generally preceded by severe neuralgic pain. 313