UNLABELLED There is no recommendation for the treatment of herpes zoster neuralgia in pregnancy, as it even sometimes needs administration of strong opioids. MAIN OBSERVATION Here, we report a pregnant woman with severe zoster neuralgia who responded favorably to acetaminophen. Due to the drug's safe profile and good efficacy, acetaminophen can be used as an alternative for herpetic neuralgia...

BACKGROUND The societal economic burden of herpes zoster in Sweden is not well described today. This study is a top-down analysis of Swedish registers with the objective to describe the burden of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in Sweden during 2011. METHODS Data for inpatient care; outpatient primary and specialized cares; the prescriptions of drugs, sick leave and the number or di...

The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes two diseases. The primary VZV infection, known as chickenpox, typically occurs during childhood. Herpes zoster infection results later in life from reactivation of VZV in the dorsal root ganglia. Herpes zoster characteristically results in a rash with a unilateral dermatomal distribution, which usually resolves within 2 to 4 weeks. If the infection does n...

BACKGROUND Immunosuppression and age-related deficiencies in cell-mediated immunity are important factors for the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV). CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and T helper 17 (Th17) cells are closely associated with various viral infections. OBJECTIVE We analyzed Treg cells and Th17 cells in patients with herpes zoster and investigated their r...

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of different acupuncture-moxibustion therapies for neurodynia and skin lesions of acute herpes zoster. Patients and Methods: From April 2007 to October 2009, 500 patients with clinical acute herpes zoster were included in the study. They were randomly divided into five groups as follow: electroacupuncture (E); electroacupuncture + cottonpave moxibustion (...

Multiple neurologic complications may follow the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), including herpes zoster (also known as zoster or shingles), postherpetic neuralgia, vasculopathy, myelitis, necrotizing retinitis, and zoster sine herpete (pain without rash). These conditions can be difficult to recognize, especially as several can occur without rash.

BACKGROUND Postherpetic neuralgia is a common serious complication of herpes zoster. Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory and might be beneficial. OBJECTIVES To examine the efficacy of corticosteroids in preventing postherpetic neuralgia. SEARCH STRATEGY We updated the searches for randomised controlled trials of corticosteroids for preventing postherpetic neuralgia in MEDLINE (January 195...

BACKGROUND The objectives of this study were to characterize the burden of herpes zoster, as well as the longitudinal and incremental changes of healthcare service utilization among individuals with herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) compared to those without. METHODS Using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), we established a herpes zoster cohort of people dia...

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus commonly presents with vesicular eruptions of skin along a dermatome and post herpetic neuralgia. Viral invasion into the intracranial vessel and resultant arteritis is rare complication, reported mainly in elderly, children and immunocompromised individuals. We report a young immunocompetent male who reported to us with acute right sided hemiparesis following an epis...

Patients with herpes zoster can develop persistent pain after rash healing, a complication known as postherpetic neuralgia. By preventing zoster through vaccination, the risk of this common complication is reduced. We searched MEDLINE and Embase for studies assessing risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia, with a view to informing vaccination policy. Nineteen prospective studies were identifie...