title: Reducing pain in acute herpes zoster with plain occlusive dressings: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pain of acute herpes zoster (shingles) is severe and difficult to control. The medications used to control pain have a variety of important and potentially serious side effects. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first case report of using a plain topical occlusive dressing to reduce the pain of herpes zoster, avoiding the use of medication.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 40-year-old Caucasian man and a qualified physician (the author), developed a dermatomal vesicular rash consistent with herpes zoster. Applying plain topical occlusive dressings reduced the severity of his pain to an ignorable level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plain topical occlusive dressings provide effective pain relief for acute herpes zoster, thereby avoiding the risks accompanying medication use.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, G329, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada. dkeegan@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Keegan
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir