title: Herpes zoster infection as a differential diagnosis of acute pulpitis.
abstract: Many diseases can cause orofacial pain, and the diagnosis must be established before final treatment. This case report presents a patient with orofacial pain that was diagnosed as an acute pulpitis. However, there was no evidence of this problem on examination. After 4 days, the patient showed multiples vesicles on the face, and a herpes zoster viral infection was diagnosed. The patient was treated with acyclovir and, after 2 yr, she still complains of facial sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Odontology, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: de Souza Filho
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jorge Júnior
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: de Almeida
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D014098:Toothache / Q000209:etiology*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000821:virology*