herpes zoster? or MRSA

sunnyflorida
Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:51:35 +0000

It does sound like shingles/zoster. My D had it last year at age 15, so age does not really matter. Shingles can look like a red bumpy rash, can have blisters, can almost look like impetigo. MRSA in this location would look very angry, forming a boil like structure, eventually release a very obvious yellow green pus–sorry to be so graphic. If he was seen by an MD/ARNP/PA, and they did not think it looked like MRSA, its probably not. Usually shingles is not a single leasion, but several. It follows a nerve path, and can be seen along a “line” so it is not unusual that he could have it come to the surface in “crops” that include first the lesion on the face and then a day or a few days later the neck. It never crosses the midline. He could have still another “spot” or two in another few days, so letting him know may help him to worry less if more pop up.

I thought my D’s was poisen ivy, and that she was spreading it with scratching, Suddenly a light came on for “doctor mom.” It was shingles alright.

While it is true that acyclovir(Zovirax), Valtrex and Famvir ideally should be started in the first 48 hours, even starting later can lessen the symptoms and cut the chances of post herpetic neuralgia–the pain that can linger after the outbreak is gone. My D started on meds late, but hers did clear up rather quickly and with no symptoms that lingered after the outbreak was gone.

If he was actually seen twice, try to relax about the MRSA. Its on everyones mind, and I am sure they have ruled it out.