Herpes zoster, colloquially often shingles, is a viral disease which leads to a painful skin rash with blisters on one side of the body. This is caused by the inflammation of a nerve (such as a ganglion) spreading to the surrounding dermatome. The disease is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), belonging to the familiy of herpes viridae, and occurs in older people or those with weakened immune systems. The virus is already transmitted in childhood and initially manifests as chicken pox. A herpes zoster is always an endogenous reactivation of a previous VZV infection. Local therapy with zinc oil, pain treatment with an oral opioid plus Lyrica. Aciclovir was not necessary.
