Which condition presents with pain, burning, tingling on one side of the body?

Which condition presents with pain, burning, tingling on one side of the body?

• A. Pleurisy
• B. Pneumonia
• C. Shingles
• D. Croup

Answer: (C)

Unilateral neuropathic pain along a dermatomal distribution is a hallmark of shingles. It results from reactivation of varicella-zoster virus in a dorsal root ganglion, causing burning or tingling sensations that lie in a band on one side of the body. Often the itchy, painful sensation is followed by a vesicular rash that appears exactly in that same nerve territory and usually does not cross the midline. This pattern helps distinguish it from other chest or throat issues: pleurisy tends to cause sharp chest pain that worsens with breathing; pneumonia brings fever, a productive cough, and generalized chest findings; croup presents with a barking cough and noisy breathing, mainly in children. Early antiviral treatment can improve outcomes and reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia.

Unilateral neuropathic pain along a dermatomal distribution is a hallmark of shingles. It results from reactivation of varicella-zoster virus in a dorsal root ganglion, causing burning or tingling sensations that lie in a band on one side of the body. Often the itchy, painful sensation is followed by a vesicular rash that appears exactly in that same nerve territory and usually does not cross the midline. This pattern helps distinguish it from other chest or throat issues: pleurisy tends to cause sharp chest pain that worsens with breathing; pneumonia brings fever, a productive cough, and generalized chest findings; croup presents with a barking cough and noisy breathing, mainly in children. Early antiviral treatment can improve outcomes and reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia.