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Diagnosis of Shingles
Differential Diagnosis of Shingles
During the prodromal phase, when pain is present without a rash, herpes zoster may be misdiagnosed as a variety of other conditions, depending on the affected area, including:
- Heart disease
- Pleurisy - inflammation of the membranes surrounding the lungs
- Herniated disk
- Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
- Appendicitis
- Duodenal ulcer
- Ovarian cyst
- Phlebitis (inflammation of a vein)
A variety of other conditions can cause a rash that may be confused with shingles, including:
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infections
- Contact dermatitis (especially toxic dermatitis from plant exposure, such as poison ivy)
- Burns
- Insect bite reactions
- Localized bacterial or viral skin infections
