Diagnosis of Shingles
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a secondary condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which also causes chickenpox. After the symptoms of chickenpox have cleared, the virus remains dormant in some of the body's nerve cells and may reappear later as shingles, a condition characterized by pain and blistering.
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Chickenpox History
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Part of diagnosing shingles is getting a chickenpox history. Only people who have had chickenpox can develop shingles; adults who are exposed to VZV for the first time as adults develop chickenpox, not shingles. Shingles may develop in children who had chickenpox before the age of one.
Single-Side Body Pain
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According to Mayo Clinic, the first symptom of shingles is generally pain that is limited to one side of the body, following the path of the nerve in which the virus remained dormant (as does the rash). For some people, this pain can be very intense and may even last long after the outbreak of shingles (a condition called post-herpetic neuralgia).
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Rash and Blistering
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Along with the characteristic one-sided body pain, shingles is often diagnosed based on the rash and blistering that follows the path of the effected nerve; this is usually located on the trunk of the body and the buttocks but may also include other parts of the body. Shingles is more painful and less itchy than chickenpox.
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
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When VZV becomes active again on the face, a condition known as Ramsay Hunt Syndrome occurs. According to the Mayo Clinic, Ramsay Hunt can lead to severe pain as well as sometimes causing permanent damage to facial muscles as well as hearing.
Confirmation
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A shingles diagnosis can be confirmed with a cell culture to check for the presence of VZV. Other symptoms are generally, however, diagnostic for the condition.
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