How is shingles diagnosed?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:A doctor diagnoses shingles by taking a full medical history, asking questions, and examining the person. If a doctor suspects shingles, he or she will look for the following clues to help confirm the diagnosis:
- The patient is experiencing pain, itching, or a burning sensation at a specific location on the body, especially if it's one side of the waist or one side of the face.
- The patient has these symptoms and fluid-filled blisters on the skin of the affected body part.
- The patient is over 40.
- The patient's immune system is weakened by disease or medication prescribed to treat disease.
A doctor diagnoses shingles by taking a full medical history, asking questions, and examining the person. If a doctor suspects shingles, he or she will look for the following clues to help confirm the diagnosis: The patient is experiencing... More -
Healthwise answered:Doctors can usually identify shingles when they see an area of rash around the left or right side of your body. If a diagnosis of shingles is not clear, your doctor may order lab tests, most commonly herpes tests, on cells taken from a blister.
If there is reason to think that shingles is present, your doctor may not wait to do tests before treating you with antiviral medicines. Early treatment may help shorten the length of the illness and prevent complications such as postherpetic neuralgia.
Doctors can usually identify shingles when they see an area of rash around the left or right side of your body. If a diagnosis of shingles is not clear, your doctor may order lab tests, most commonly herpes tests, on cells taken from a blister.... More
