Shingles: a review of diagnosis and management

Herpes zoster or shingles results from reactivation of varicella zoster virus previously dormant in cells of the dorsal root ganglion. The incidence of shingles increases with age and immunosuppression. Guidelines for managing shingles are now available and implementation, with the emphasis on early treatment, may reduce the severity of a shingles attack and reduce the incidence of complications.