Viral Infections USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 45-year-old man with no significant past medical history presents with fever, malaise, and headache for 3 days, followed by development of painful vesicles on his lower back in a dermatomal distribution. Vital signs show temperature 38.5°C, heart rate 92/min, blood pressure 128/82 mmHg, and respiratory rate 16/min. He denies recent chemotherapy or immunosuppression. Examination reveals grouped vesicles on erythematous base along the T12 dermatome, with no involvement of mucous membranes. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer choices
- AHerpes zosterCorrect answer
- BPrimary varicella-zoster virus infection
- CHerpes simplex virus type 2 infection
- DContact dermatitis from clothing
- EBacterial cellulitis with vesiculation
- FDisseminated varicella infection in an immunocompromised host
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