CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH SHINGLES ADMITTED TO A DISTRICT GENERAL-HOSPITAL

Little is known about why some patients with shingles are admitted to hospital. We reviewed 72 case notes from a list of 80 patients admitte d to hospital with shingles over a six-year period. Pain was the main complaint of the patients admitted, most of whom were elderly and live d alone. The commonest site of involvement in hospital admissions was the eye (herpes tester ophthalmicus). Diagnosis of shingles was made a fter admission in 12 patients, eight of whom had originally been diagn osed as having an acute medical or surgical condition. We conclude tha t the prodromal phase of shingles may lead to misdiagnosis.