Causes• Herpes virus varicella-zoster

Incidence of shingles is highest in old age, in conditions such as Hodgkin’s disease, AIDS and leukemia.

Symptoms • Burning pain • Erythema • Blood-filled vesicles

Complications • Secondary bacterial infection• Paralysis of ocular muscles, facial muscles, the diaphragm and the bladder• Corneal ulcers and scarring• Persistent neuralgic pain

Differential diagnosis• Chickenpox• Contact stomatitis • Folliculitis

Diagnose• Culture • Biopsy histology • Tzanck smears

Treatment• Famciclovir, valaciclovir, acyclovir• Systemic carbamazepine, gabapentin, amitriptyline• Topical capsaicin cream