TABLE 1.

Classification of neurological complications from VZV

	Meningitis Persson 2009	Pleocytosis ≥5 nucleated cells/mm3 (CSF) Signs and symptoms of meningitis No focal deficit, no coma, no alteration of mental status No peripheral involvement Negative bacterial CSF culture
CNS	Meningoencephalitis Persson 2009 Venkatesan 2013	Motor or sensitive central focal deficit or seizures or alteration of mental status or abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) or abnormal brain MRI suggestive of encephalitis
	Myelitis Gilden 1994	Motor or sensitive medullar deficit Positive medullar MRI (spinal cord T2 hypersignal)
	Stroke	Motor or sensitive central deficit Positive cranial MRI typical from neurologic stroke
PNS	Peripheral involvement Robillard 1986 Steiner 2018	≥1 cranial nerve palsy or ≥1 peripheral radiculopathy Isolated expected pain related to a zoster outbreak was not considered here
Isolated viral detection		Positive VZV PCR in the CSF Not corresponding to any other neurologic classification

Abbreviations: CNS, central nervous system; CSF, cerebro spinal fluid; EEG, electroencephalogram; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PNS, peripheral nervous system; VZV, varicella zoster virus.