Data gathering
- Red flags
- Others – initially numbness/pain/burning then rash (macules then vesicles)
- Examine
Clinical management
- Investigations
- Explanation
- infection of a nerve that supplies an area of skin
- same virus as chickenpox
- Treatment
- contagious – until all blisters have scabbed over
- avoid immunocompromised, pregnant women and babies
- Aciclovir – within 72 hours (or 1 week if >50 years old, immunocompromised, moderate pain)
- Followup / Safety-net
- Post herpetic neuralgia – residual pain/altered sensation – neuropathic analgesia