Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42326154›Full record

ArticleCureus2026

Not Always the Herpes You Think: A Case Report of Genital Zoster.

Diane V Reed

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author.

Diane V ReedInternal Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Herpes zoster (HZ), caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), is a common viral infection typically presenting with characteristic dermatological findings. However, less typical manifestations, such as genital zoster, are frequently overlooked. This is often due to the higher prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in the genital region, which can lead to diagnostic confusion. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for genital zoster, particularly in patients with dermatomal rashes or those who are immunocompromised. Accurate diagnosis is essential, as misdiagnosing genital zoster as HSV can result in unnecessary psychological distress and prolonged prophylactic antiviral treatment for some patients. Improved clinical awareness and diagnostic precision can lead to better physical and psychological outcomes for patients. This case report highlights a missed diagnosis of genital zoster, ultimately confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for VZV, and underscores the importance of considering this condition in the differential diagnosis of genital symptoms, especially in patients with relevant risk factors and clinical features suggestive of zoster.

Indexed as

dermatomaldermatomal patterngenital rashgenital zosterherpes simplex infectionherpes zosterherpes zoster virusvesicular rash

Identifiers

PMID42326154
PMCPMC13278140

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.