Skill Checkup: A 40-Year-Old Woman With Rheumatoid Arthritis Has Fever, Headache, Photophobia and Painful, Burning Rash

Heidi Moawad, MD

May 08, 2023

In a population-based case-control study, which quantified the effects of risk factors, people with RA, like this patient, had a 40% higher risk for HZ compared with age-, sex- and practice-matched controls (2.1% vs 1.5%, respectively). Other conditions that are associated with a higher risk for HZ include inflammatory bowel disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and chronic kidney disease.

Given that both her disease and her RA treatment contribute to a high risk for HZ, the general practitioner suggests that this patient would be a good candidate for HZ vaccination at her next appointment.

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Cite this: Heidi Moawad. Skill Checkup: A 40-Year-Old Woman With Rheumatoid Arthritis Has Fever, Headache, Photophobia and Painful, Burning Rash - Medscape - May 08, 2023.

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