Varicella zoster with extended prodrome: a case series.
BACKGROUND
Traditionally, varicella zoster (herpes zoster) is believed to have a prodrome of 1-3 days. The objective of our article is to emphasize the importance of including herpes zoster in the differential diagnosis of unilateral pain syndromes without vesicular lesions present for >3 days.


RESULTS
We report a case series from one primary care physician's practice at a tertiary-care teaching hospital documenting herpes zoster prodromes of 6-18 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings expand the clinical picture of herpes zoster, which hopefully will lead to cases of improved diagnoses that translate into the timely and cost-effective implementation of appropriate treatment.
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
Wendy W
WW
Zerngast
Doug S
DS
Paauw
Kim M
KM
O'Connor
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D062706:Prodromal Symptoms