Herpes Zoster Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: James E Moon, MD; Chief Editor: Steven C Dronen, MD, FAAEM   more...
 
Updated: May 11, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Conditions with rash symptoms that can be similar to those of herpes zoster include the following:

  • Atopic dermatitis
  • Atypical measles
  • Coxsackievirus Infections
  • Poison ivy
  • Superficial pyoderma
  • Zosteriform herpes simplex

Conditions with pain symptoms that can be similar to those of herpes zoster include the following:

  • Angina
  • Cholecystitis
  • Renal calculi
  • Glaucoma
  • Spinal nerve compression

As previously mentioned, in severely ill or immunocompromised patients, general CNS involvement can be observed in the form of meningoencephalitis or encephalitis. Such presentations are indistinguishable from other forms of meningoencephalitis, although other evidence of acute zoster usually is present.[4] CSF studies frequently reveal pleocytosis without elevated protein. These infections can be-life threatening.

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

James E Moon, MD  Clinical Investigator, Department of Clinical Trials, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Uniformed Service University of Health Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Duane R Hospenthal, MD, PhD  Chief, Infectious Disease Service, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center; Professor of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Duane R Hospenthal, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Armed Forces Infectious Diseases Society, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, Infectious Diseases Society of America, International Society for Infectious Diseases, International Society of Travel Medicine, and Medical Mycology Society of the Americas

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard S Krause, MD  Senior Clinical Faculty/Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Buffalo State University of New York School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Richard S Krause, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mark R Wallace, MD, FACP, FIDSA  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine; Head of Infectious Disease Fellowship Program, Orlando Regional Medical Center

Mark R Wallace, MD, FACP, FIDSA is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Jeffrey Glenn Bowman, MD, MS  Consulting Staff, Highfield MRI

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Eric L Weiss, MD, DTM&H  Director of Stanford Travel Medicine, Medical Director of Stanford Lifeflight, Assistant Professor, Departments of Emergency Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine

Eric L Weiss, MD, DTM&H is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American Medical Association, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Southeastern Surgical Congress, Southern Association for Oncology, Southern Clinical Neurological Society, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Burke A Cunha, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Steven C Dronen, MD, FAAEM  Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, LeConte Medical Center

Steven C Dronen, MD, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Herpes zoster on the neck.
Herpes zoster on the lateral part of the abdomen.
Suspected Zoster of the Hand
Maculopapular rash due to herpes zoster in a child with a history of leukemia. Courtesy of the CDC.
 
 
 
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