The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a virus of the subfamily of Alfavirus responsible for infections with different clinical presentations. Primary infection occurs more frequently in the pediatric age presented as chickenpox. The reactivation of the infection occurs mainly in immunosuppressed patients, in the form of Herpes-Zoster [1]. Varicella-Zoster virus is associated with severe neurologi...

Introduction. A five-item Self-Assessment of Treatment (SAT) was developed to assess improvement and satisfaction with treatment associated with the application of a novel high concentration 8% capsaicin topical patch in clinical trials in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This study evaluated the item performance and psychometric properties of the SAT. Methods. The SAT, Brief Pain In...

This study evaluates the outcome of ozone therapy given to 55 patients suffering from post-herpetic neuralgia, for whom “conventional” therapies brought no relief. The author makes several considerations regarding the assessment of pain, the details of ozone therapy, the coadjuvant medication, and the criteria for the evaluation of the results, i.e. the reduction or elimination of pain. From th...

There have been 4 recent major advances in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) that are based on the results of randomized, controlled trials. These advances are the demonstrations that gabapentin, the lidocaine patch 5%, and opioid analgesics are efficacious in patients with PHN, and the report that nortriptyline and amitriptyline provide equivalent analgesic benefits for patients wi...

Treatment strategies for herpes zoster infection include limiting viral replication with anti-infective agents as well as limiting associated acute and chronic neuropathic pain with a variety of analgesics. The author outlines currently available pharmacotherapeutic options, from first-line (eg, anti-infective agents, tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioid analgesics, and topical ag...

the only anticonvulsant labeled for the treatment of both postherpetic neuralgia and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Valproic acid and topiramate are approved for the prevention of migraine headaches. Phenytoin is not frequently used to treat neuropathic pain due to its narrow therapeutic range, adverse effects and lack of demonstrated efficacy. In general, anecdotal reports have suggested that...