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Diagnosis

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

diagnosis

Diagnosis of HZ is usually clinical.

If there is a diagnostic uncertainty, laboratory confirmation is required e.g. -:

  • herpes zoster without a rash (zoster sine herpete)
  • HZ of the face and genital areas, as these areas are the natural sites for recurrent labial and genital herpes respectively
  • atypical mucocutaneous forms (1,2)

Fluid from vesicles may be used for polymerase chain reaction testing, viral culture, or direct immunofluorescent antigen staining (1).

Reference:

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