Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) is a common, vision and potentially life-threatening disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in the distribution of the first division of cranial nerve V. Although the rate of herpes zoster increases with age, over half of the people with zoster in general, including HZO, are under age 60. In addition, over 90% of people with zoste...

Postherpetic neuralgia is a well-studied and somewhat common sequala of herpes zoster leading to intense pain episodes. Pain-induced vasovagal episodes can rarely lead asystole, which fatal potential complication. It crucial have high clinical suspicion asystole when patient presents with severe herpetic syncope. This unique cause 67-year-old Caucasian female who presented syncope caused by pos...

Post-herpetic neuralgia is the most frequent complication of herpes zoster and affects up to 30% of patients. Increased age is a well-recognized risk factor, while the role of gender is highly uncertain. Little research has been performed into a possible combined effect of age and sex in post-herpetic neuralgia. The objective of the study was to study the role of age and sex and their combined ...

We report a rare case that developed orbital myositis before appearance of zoster rashes. A 54 year-old man came to our hospital with a 4-day history of left orbital shooting pain extending to left temporal area. Neurological examinations demonstrated mild left proptosis and hyperemic conjunctiva without ophthalmoplegia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed left orbital myositis and ...

BACKGROUND A vaccine to prevent herpes zoster was recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. We sought to determine the cost-effectiveness of this vaccine for different age groups. METHODS We constructed a cost-effectiveness model, based on the Shingles Prevention Study, to compare varicella zoster vaccination with usual care for healthy adults aged >60 years. Outcom...

BACKGROUND Over the years, acyclovir has been the oral antiviral agent approved for the treatment of patients with acute herpes zoster,Its effectiveness in lessening the acute signs and symptoms of herpes zoster has been established but the effects on post herpetic neuralgia are less clear cut. Famciclovir is a new member of guanine nucleoside family of drugs. It is a well absorbed oral form of...

The most common complication of herpes zoster in immunocompetent patients is postherpetic neuralgia, which is very difficult to treat. Significant beneficial effects have been found for amitriptyline, gabapentin, pregabalin, carbamazepine, sodium valproate, oxycodone, corticosteroid, topical capsaicin, tramadol, etc. The aim of this open randomized comparative study was to demonstrate clinical ...

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...

This article reviews specific clinical and research issues of herpes zoster related to geriatric medicine. Salient epidemiological and clinical issues include the increasing probability of zoster and postherpetic neuralgia with aging, age-related decline in immunity to varicella-zoster virus, the functional and psychosocial impact of zoster on the quality of life of the elderly, illness behavio...

J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg 2012;38:177-83) Herpes zoster is a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, an infection most commonly affecting the thoracolumbar trunk. Herpes Zoster Infection (HZI) may affect the cranial nerves, most frequently the trigeminal. HZI of the trigeminal nerve distribution network manifests as multiple, painful vesicular eruptio...