Thermal imaging in acute herpes zoster or post‐zoster neuralgia

Abstract

Thermal asymmetry of the skin is a common finding in patients with acute herpes. However, the thermal patterns seem to correlate better with the duration of the disease than with the intensity of pain.

Thermographic Follow-up of a Mild Case of Herpes Zoster

“…Two days later (day 0 [D0]), a pruritic urticarial plaque was noted on the left side of the chest. [2][3][4] In the present case, serial follow-up was performed for the first time, to our knowledge, and revealed interesting findings. On the next day (D2), skin lesions appeared on the back, and the first thermogram was performed (Figure 1).…”

“…A 39-year-old Korean man reported dysesthesia of the left axilla. [2][3][4] However, no significant results were identified except for the chronologic correlation with the duration of the disease. One day later (D1), tiny vesicles began to develop, and pain became evident.…”

“…On D7, although nearly no pain was associated with the anterior chest skin lesions, dysesthesia was still present. [3][4][5][6] This interpretation suggests that thermography might be useful in the diagnosis of herpes zoster sine herpete or early herpes zoster without skin eruption. It is possible that the neuropathy led to hypothermia, while inflammation of the skin led to hyperthermia, and as a combination effect of both the neuropathy and skin inflammation, the resultant temperature difference (slight hypothermia) was observed.…”

Does skin temperature difference as measured by infrared thermography within 6 months of acute herpes zoster infection correlate with pain level?

“…Infrared thermography shows physiological rather than anatomic changes (7). Thermal asymmetry of the skin, in which the affected area is either warmer or cooler than the contralateral site, has been described in patients suffering from acute HZ (7–9). One study showed that reduced temperature on the affected side, as determined by infrared thermal imaging, is a predictor of PHN.…”

High-resolution infrared thermography: a new tool to assess tungiasis-associated inflammation of the skin

“…Hitherto, HRIT has been rarely used in inflammatory skin diseases of infectious origin. Ammer et al applied whole body HRIT to measure asymmetry of skin temperature in patients with acute herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia [20]. Arenas et al used long-distance infrared thermal imaging for the diagnosis of disseminated mange (animal scabies) in wild Pyrenean goats [12].…”