Viral Infection

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Diagnosis

Chickenpox and shingles are diagnosed by clinical examination and symptoms. Although not routine, definitive diagnosis of varicella-zoster virus can be obtained by culturing infected cells.


Treatment

Treatment options for shingles include oral medication such as valacyclovir (Valtrex®) and famciclovir (Famvir®). For severe infections and in immunosuppressed patients, intravenous medication may be administered in the hospital.

With chickenpox, an important par...Read the full article