Herpes zoster

Differential diagnosis includes herpes simplex, poison ivy, contact dermatitis and insect bites. Patients with prodromal pain are often misdiagnosed as having a variety of illnesses including myocardial infarction and cholecystitis.


A case of herpes simplex. This looks exactly like herpes zoster except that there is usually only one group of vescials with herpes simplex.

Poison ivy

Poison ivy which is a form of contact dermatitis. The vesicals of herpes zoster usually form in groups