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Development of an IFN-γ ELISpot Assay to Assess Varicella-Zoster Virus-specific Cell-mediated Immunity Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
Published on: July 9, 2014
Varicella zoster with extended prodrome: a case series
Wendy W Zerngast1, Doug S Paauw, Kim M O'Connor
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
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.
Methods/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.
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