An elderly female client with pustules along nerve routes has been prescribed acyclovir. What disease does she likely have?

The presentation of pustules along nerve routes in the elderly female client is characteristic of shingles, also known as herpes zoster. This condition is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person has had chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in the nerve tissue for many years and may reactivate later in life, particularly in older adults or those with weakened immune systems.

The description of pustules, especially in a dermatomal pattern that follows the distribution of a nerve, strongly aligns with what is observed in shingles. Acyclovir is an antiviral medication that is effective in treating herpes viruses, including varicella-zoster virus, and is commonly used to reduce the symptoms and duration of shingles.

Other options, such as influenza, herpes simplex, and CMV (cytomegalovirus), do not typically present with pustules along nerve routes. Influenza primarily causes respiratory symptoms and systemic effects, herpes simplex's involvement would not feature the same pustular pattern on nerve routes, and CMV does not align with these specific symptoms in an elderly individual with a pustular rash. Therefore, the most fitting diagnosis for this scenario, supported by the appropriate antiviral