An 84-year-old patient who has had a low-grade fever for 2 days complains of pain in the hip that travels down the leg along the sciatic nerve.The nurse assesses small groups of vesicles along the nerve path.These assessments lead the nurse to suspect that the patient is suffering from:

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Herpes zoster (shingles)begins with vague symptoms of chills and low-grade fever and possibly some gastrointestinal disturbance.There may be only aching or discomfort along the nerve pathway with or without erythema.About 3 to 5 days after onset,small groups of vesicles appear on the skin.They usually are found on the trunk and spread halfway around the body,following the nerve pathways leading from the spinal nerve to the skin.

An 84-Year-Old Patient Who Has Had a Low-Grade Fever for 2