Shingles / Herpes Zoster/Post Herpetic Neuralgia/Chicken Pox Shingles

How is shingles diagnosed?

The location and pattern of the rash is the most important sign that helps to diagnose shingles(6^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Presentation and Management of Herpes Zoster (Shingles) in the Geriatric Population

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Previous history of Chicken-pox along with the one-sided blisters on the body make it easy to diagnose a shingles infection.

The doctor will carry out a physical examination besides asking questions related to the symptoms and take down the associated history before coming to a conclusion.

A culture carried out with a blood sample or a fluid sample from a blister helps to confirm the diagnosis(5^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Varicella Zoster

Go to source). Sometimes there are no blisters and only pain is experienced in the region of the nerve distribution. In this situation it may be difficult to diagnose Shingles and one may confuse the condition with appendicitis or a kidney stone.