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Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2026, vol. 32, issue3
Subject Area: Dental Medicine
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2026323.6979
Published online: 17 July 2026
Case report
J of IMAB. 2026 Jul-Sep;32(3):6979-6985
ISOLATED HARD PALATE INVOLVEMENT AFTER HERPES ZOSTER VIRUS INFECTION: A CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW
Elitsa Dzhongova
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Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University -Varna, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
Aim. The objective of this study is to present a rare clinical case of herpes zoster–associated neuropathy of the hard palate, resulting from involvement of the right greater palatine nerve (n. palatinus major dextra) of the maxillary nerve (n. maxillaris) following herpes zoster virus (HZV) infection. In addition, the report aims to review the frequency, clinical characteristics, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic strategies for both systemic and oral manifestations of this condition.
Materials and Methods. We describe the case of a female patient presenting with a unilateral, intensely painful vesicular eruption on the right side of the hard palate, accompanied by malaise, fatigue, and pain affecting the right half of the face, but without extraoral clinical signs.
Results. A review of the relevant literature indicates that herpes zoster involving the maxillary nerve—and specifically limited to the greater palatine nerve—is relatively uncommon and often presents with non-specific features. Such manifestations may also occur in isolation, without concurrent involvement of other anatomical regions.
Conclusion. Recognition of this rare clinical presentation of herpes zoster affecting the oral cavity, and particularly the hard palate, is essential for accurate diagnosis and timely referral. Early detection enables the prompt initiation of antiviral therapy, which can reduce viral replication and dissemination, mitigate sensory nerve damage and pain, and prevent complications associated with herpes zoster infection.
Keywords: herpes zoster, virus, hard palate, infection,
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Please cite this article as: Dzhongova E. Isolated Hard Palate Involvement after Herpes Zoster Virus Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review. J of IMAB. 2026 Jul-Sep;32(3):6979-6985. [Crossref - 10.5272/jimab.2026323.6979]
Correspondence to: Elitsa Dzhongova, Department Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University – Varna; 84, Tsar Osvoboditel Str., Varna, Bulgaria. E-mail: dr.dzhongova@mail.bg
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Received: 29 September 2025
Published online: 17 July 2026