Diagnosis and treatment of herpes zoster: role of the nurse practitioner.
METHODS
Case example and review of clinical trials, meta-analyses, and reviews provide relevant data regarding the management of herpes zoster.


CONCLUSIONS
Herpes zoster is a relatively common disease in elderly patients. It results from reactivation of varicella zoster virus (chickenpox). Characteristic vesicular lesions are often accompanied by significant acute pain. The risk of complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), increases when patients age or are inadequately treated.


CONCLUSIONS
Appropriate diagnosis and management of herpes zoster may shorten the overall disease course, accelerate cutaneous healing, and reduce the risk of PHN, a chronically painful complication. Greater understanding of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and available treatment options is essential for nurse practitioners and other primary care providers to initiate early treatment in patients with suspected herpes zoster infection.
Wright
Wendy L
WL
Merrimack Village Family Practice Center, New Hampshire, USA.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D024802:Nurse's Role
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000998:Antiviral Agents