10 Shingles Symptoms
Article Sources
- 1. Shingles (Herpes Zoster). National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Viral Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/hcp/clinical-overview.html
- 2. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (HIS). The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition (ICHD-3) – www.ichd-3.org
10. Ear Pain
Otalgia is the medical term used to describe pain in the ears. It usually affects only one ear at a time but depending on the underlying condition causing the pain it might cause bilateral symptoms as well. External ear pain or pain elicited by touching the external part of the ear should be differentiated from pain inside the ear canal. Many conditions like otitis externa, acute otitis media (AOM), and pharyngitis may cause this symptom to appear.
If the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) affects the nerves in the head, it can cause a condition known as herpes zoster oticus. The main characteristic of this condition is ear pain and the finding of the usual red patchy rash with vesicles near the ear. Luckily, this condition is not very common and often times can be overlooked or confused with other similar diseases.
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