Ben is most likely experiencing allodynia, a common complication of shingles characterized by pain from light touches such as clothing. This condition arises from nerve damage caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus.
Leslie's husband Ben is complaining that wearing a shirt hurts his skin after his shingles rash on his abdomen resolved. This sensation of pain from non-painful stimuli like the touch of clothing is known as allodynia. Allodynia is a common complication following a shingles outbreak, a condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.
After the acute phase of shingles resolves, some individuals may experience postherpetic neuralgia, which is pain persisting after the rash has healed, which can last for weeks or even months.
Therefore, Ben's discomfort when wearing a shirt is likely due to allodynia, a type of pain that happens when the nerves have been damaged during the shingles infection. Since Ben did not receive a herpes zoster vaccine, he was at risk for this complication. Those who have had chickenpox may benefit from vaccination to prevent shingles and its associated pain.