Review of an Unusual Case of Chronic Relapsing (×6) Zoster Sine Herpete: Immediate Response to High-dose Oral Acyclovir Therapy: Efficacy of the Expedited Classic Therapeutic Trial in an Era of Digital Medicine

Abstract

A 79-year-old retired physician with type II diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia presented to his physician complaining of recurrent severe unilateral T10 thoracic pain. This report demonstrates the effect of early high-dose oral acyclovir therapy as a diagnostic, therapeutic challenge to assist in the early diagnosis of zoster sine herpete, herpes zoster infection without dermatomal skin rash (ZSH), a clinically covert form of the more recognized herpes zoster infection with both dermatomal pain and skin rash (HZ).