Urinary retention is a rare complication of shingles. (Image credit: ugurhan via Getty Images)
Patient: 77-year-old male from China.
Symptoms: Seven hours before admission, the patient developed shortness of breath, abdominal pain, and “obvious” bloating, meaning his abdomen looked very swollen and distended, doctors said in the case. He had difficulty urinating and defecating for about four days, and a week before admission, he had been prescribed antiviral and pain medications for shingles affecting his lower back, sacral area, or base of the spine.
What happened next: In the emergency room, doctors noticed that the patient’s abdomen was “swollen and tender,” especially in the lower abdomen, and there was evidence of “significant” fluid accumulation. The skin around the base of his spine showed lesions from shingles, which causes painful blistering rashes. The man’s pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate were elevated, but he had no fever. His blood oxygen levels were low, while inflammatory markers and blood acidity levels were elevated.
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