Article Text
Summary
A 76-year-old man presented to the emergency department complaining of acute urinary retention (AUR) and severe constipation. His recent medical history included 4 days of treatment in the community for gluteal herpes zoster with famciclovir. A transurethral catheter was passed and the patient completed a full course of famciclovir with resolution of constipation. The patient’s catheter was successfully removed 3 weeks after his presentation. We report on the clinical presentation and management of an unusual case of AUR and constipation caused by a zoster viral infection of the S2–S4 dermatome.
- Dermatology
- Urinary and genital tract disorders
- Catheterisation / catheter care
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Footnotes
Contributors EMC collected the data and drafted the report. NFD edited the report. KW carried out supervision.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.