Herpes zoster (Shingles; Zona) is an acute infectious skin disease that is caused by the reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV). After the initial infection (chickenpox) or vaccination, the virus remains inactive or latent in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG); when decreasing cell mediated immunity (CMI) occurs, the virus is reactivated from a latent phase to a lytic phase and frequently repl...

there is no recommendation for the treatment of herpes zoster neuralgia in pregnancy, as it even sometimes needs administration of strong opioids.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 in pregnant women. however, co...

Approximately one in three persons will develop herpes zoster during their lifetime, and it can lead to serious complications such as postherpetic neuralgia. However, evidence on burden of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in Japan is limited. This prospective, observational, multicenter, physician practice-based cohort study was conducted in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan (Clinicaltrials.gov ...

BACKGROUND The incidence and severity of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia increase with age in association with a progressive decline in cell-mediated immunity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV). We tested the hypothesis that vaccination against VZV would decrease the incidence, severity, or both of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia among older adults. METHODS We enrolled 38,546 a...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Herpes zoster has a high incidence rate among people aged ≥ 60 years and can lead to serious complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia. There are currently no data on the economic burden of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in Japan, and the objective of this study was to address this gap. METHODS A total of 412 patients aged ≥ 60 years diagnosed with herp...

Herpes zoster is the consequence of the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster infection. Immunosuppression may be a predisposing factor for herpes zoster. We have retrospectively assessed the risk of herpes zoster, the risk factors for its occurrence, and its evolution in a population of 209 consecutive liver transplant recipients. Herpes zoster developed in 25 (12%) of patients. One-, 3-, 5-...

Review of literature revealed atleast 30 cases of post herpes zoster osteonecrosis of maxilla or mandible. To our knowledge this is a first reported case of Ramsay-Hunt syndrome with post herpetic neuralgia and post herpes zoster osteonecrosis of edentulous maxilla and mandible. We have briefly reviewed the pathophysiology and management of post herpes zoster osteonecrosis and post herpetic neu...

BACKGROUND In 2013, a herpes zoster vaccination programme was introduced in England for adults aged 70 years with a phased catch-up programme for those aged 71-79 years. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the first 3 years of the vaccination programme on incidence of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in this population. METHODS In this population-based study, we extracted data from the...

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox and herpes zoster. Herpes zoster is a common infection in older adults and can lead to potentially debilitating postherpetic neuralgia. This article reviews the diagnosis and management of herpes zoster, including strategies to reduce disease frequency and severity with the herpes zoster vaccine.

This retrospective study was designed to assess the effects of acyclovir treatment of acute herpes zoster on subsequent postherpetic neuralgia, and to examine the effects of amitriptyline in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. Eighty seven patients with postherpetic neuralgia of three or more months' duration were studied: 24 of them had had their herpes zoster treated with oral acyclovir....