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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Swelling And Soreness In Neck, Ear And Right Side Of Head Indicates Shingles?

I thought I had a reaction to a bug or spider bite, but it is now 4 days later and my neck,ear and right side of my head are more swollen, and sore. I am also now having shooting pain up the side of my head and Benadryl, Tylenol 3 s and gravol do not help much. Could this be shingles ?
posted on Tue, 17 Sep 2013
Twitter Wed, 5 Feb 2014 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 6 Feb 2014 Last reviewed on
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Dermatologist,  's  Response
Hi. Thanks for posting your concern at HCM

Shingles or herpes zoster has a very distinctive presentation of grouped discrete vesicles located only on one side of the body, usually located in a single dermatome associated with sharp, shooting, burning or stabbing pain.

Spider bite can be difficult to distinguish from shingles, specially early on but usually they can be distinguished by an experienced clinician based on distribution of lesions and morphology. Spider bite also usually burns and pains like shingles

I would advice that you see a dermatologist for a visual confirmatory diagnosis of either of these conditions. You can take pain killers twice or thrice daily for symptomatic pain relief.

Take care
regards
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Does Swelling And Soreness In Neck, Ear And Right Side Of Head Indicates Shingles?

Hi. Thanks for posting your concern at HCM Shingles or herpes zoster has a very distinctive presentation of grouped discrete vesicles located only on one side of the body, usually located in a single dermatome associated with sharp, shooting, burning or stabbing pain. Spider bite can be difficult to distinguish from shingles, specially early on but usually they can be distinguished by an experienced clinician based on distribution of lesions and morphology. Spider bite also usually burns and pains like shingles I would advice that you see a dermatologist for a visual confirmatory diagnosis of either of these conditions. You can take pain killers twice or thrice daily for symptomatic pain relief. Take care regards