diagnosis
Last edited 12/2018 and last reviewed 07/2021
diagnosis
Diagnosis of HZ is usually clinical.
If there is a diagnostic uncertainty, laboratory confirmation is required e.g. -:
- herpes zoster without a rash (zoster sine herpete)
- HZ of the face and genital areas, as these areas are the natural sites for recurrent labial and genital herpes respectively
- atypical mucocutaneous forms (1,2)
Fluid from vesicles may be used for polymerase chain reaction testing, viral culture, or direct immunofluorescent antigen staining (1).
Reference:
- (1) Fashner J, Bell AL. Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia: prevention and management. Am Fam Physician. 2011;83(12):1432-7.
- (2) Werner RN et al. European consensus-based (S2k) Guideline on the Management of Herpes Zoster - guided by the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) in cooperation with the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), Part 1: Diagnosis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31(1):9-19.