Herpes Zoster: ABFM practice questions

11 board-style questions on herpes zoster in the PulseMD family medicine question bank, written against current guidelines with the reference cited on each question. Two free samples below; the full set with answers, explanations, and spaced review is free to start.

Sample question 1

A 66-year-old man with well-controlled type 2 diabetes and hypertension presents for a wellness visit. He received PPSV23 at age 65. He has never received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) or the recombinant zoster vaccine. According to current ACIP recommendations, which vaccines should be offered at this visit?

1. Repeat PPSV23 in 5 years; RZV only if immunocompromised
2. No additional pneumococcal vaccine needed; RZV series only
3. PCV20 now (at least 1 year after PPSV23) and recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) series
4. PCV15 now and PPSV23 booster at age 70; defer RZV

Sample question 2

A 68-year-old woman presents with a 2-day history of severe, burning, unilateral pain on the right side of her torso followed by a grouped vesicular eruption on an erythematous base in a dermatomal distribution (T6). She has not been vaccinated against herpes zoster. She has no immunosuppression. Symptom onset was approximately 48 hours ago. What is the most appropriate management?

1. Gabapentin for pain and observation since antiviral window has passed
2. Valacyclovir 1000 mg three times daily for 7 days, initiated immediately, plus pain management
3. Topical acyclovir cream applied to the vesicles
4. Administer Shingrix vaccine now to prevent progression

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