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Infecção por herpes-zóster

Last reviewed: 13 Sep 2025
Last updated: 19 Mar 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presença de fatores de risco
  • dor localizada em um dermátomo
  • prurido
  • erupção cutânea
  • ulceração corneana
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • febre
  • cefaleia
  • mal-estar
  • fadiga
  • dor sem erupção cutânea
Full details

Risk factors

  • >50 anos de idade
  • sexo feminino
  • vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV)
  • uso crônico de corticosteroide
  • quimioterapia
  • malignidades
  • etnia branca
  • certas doenças agudas ou crônicas
  • vacinação contra outras doenças infecciosas
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • diagnóstico clínico
Full details

Tests to consider

  • reação em cadeia da polimerase
  • imuno-histoquímica
  • cultura de fluido vesicular
  • teste de HIV
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

sintomas agudos: imunocompetentes

sintomas agudos: imunocomprometidos

ONGOING

dor pós-herpética

Contributors

Authors

Phuc Le, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor

Center for Value-Based Care Research

Medicine Institute

Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland

OH

Disclosures

PL declares that she has no competing interests.

Michael Rothberg, MD, MPH

Professor

Center for Value-Based Care Research

Medicine Institute

Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland

OH

Disclosures

MR declares that he has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Phuc Le and Dr Michael Rothberg would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Kenneth J. Smith and Dr Linda Kalilani, the previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

KJS and LK declare that they have no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Julius Atashili, MD, MPH

Department of Epidemiology

Division of General Medicine and Epidemiology

UNC at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill

NC

Disclosures

JA declares that he has no competing interests.

Ken Mutton, MB, BS, FRCPA, FRCPath

Consultant Virologist

Manchester Royal Infirmary

Manchester

UK

Disclosures

KM declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Dworkin RH, Johnson RW, Breuer J, et al. Recommendations for the management of herpes zoster. Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Jan 1;44 Suppl 1:S1-26.Full text  Abstract

National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV Medicine Association, and Infectious Diseases Society of America. Panel on Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in adults and adolescents with HIV: varicella-zoster virus. 2022 [internet publication].Full text

Dooling KL, Guo A, Patel M, et al. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for use of herpes zoster vaccines. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018 Jan 26;67(3):103-8.Full text  Abstract

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult immunization schedule by age. Recommendations for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2025. Nov 2024 [internet publication].Full text

Severson EA, Baratz KH, Hodge DO, et al. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus in Olmsted County, Minnesota: have systemic antivirals made a difference? Arch Ophthalmol. 2003 Mar;121(3):386-90.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
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    • Recommended immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years or older: United States, 2025
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  • Patient information

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    Varicela

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