[Herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in the elderly: Particularities in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment].

Acupuncture in post herpetic neuralgia

Post herpetic neuralgia is a chronic neuropathic pain syndrome that it is characterized by pain in the area of ​​the nerve involved distribution after the disappearance of herpes zoster lesions and it may be persistent, refractory and severe. Various treatments including medication, Botox injections, nerve block and physical modalities have been used in the treatment of this syndrome, each has ...

Clinical efficacy and tolerability of valacyclovir versus acyclovir in treatment of herpes zoster

Background: Acyclovir, a specific and selective inhibitor of replication of herpesviridae family, has well documented efficacy for speedy rash healing and decreasing pain of herpes zoster. Limited oral bioavailability of acyclovir requires frequent dosing. Valacyclovir is rapidly and almost completely converted to acyclovir in vivo and gives three to fivefold increase in acyclovir bioavailabili...

Clinical and psychosocial correlates of post-herpetic neuralgia.

Post-herpetic neuralgia is the most challenging and debilitating complication of herpes zoster in the immunocompetent host. Because the effect of treatment is disappointing once the syndrome has developed, it is important to know which factors predict post-herpetic neuralgia occurrence to facilitate selection of herpes zoster patients with a higher risk of developing neuralgia and undertake pre...

Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia Using Narrow Band Ultraviolet B Radiation (UVB).

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common complication of herpes zoster, frequently unresponsive to most available treatment. The disease is especially difficult to manage in elderly people and has a great impact on the quality of life of patients. Narrow band ultraviolet B radiation may play a role in the prevention and treatment of PHN. Present paper describes a case of a 59 year-old female pa...

A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of an Adjuvanted Subunit Vaccine for the Prevention of Herpes Zoster and Post-Herpetic Neuralgia