Understanding Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia: Symptoms and Treatment Options

Books – Hossam Al Shaqoury

Friday, 05 May 2023 06:00 AM

causes herpes Shingles is a painful rash anywhere on your body. It usually appears as a single strip of blisters that wrap around one side of your torso, or in some cases on one side of your face or neck, or around one eye. Shingles blisters form over the course of three to Five days, and it gradually dries up and peels off, and disappears within two to four weeks, according to what was published by the site everydayhealth

There is a vaccine available that prevents herpes zoster for people 50 years of age or older and for people 18 years of age or older who are immunocompromised..

Symptoms

Pain, itching, or tingling in the area where the rash will occur later

A rash that may start a few days after this pain, itching, or tingling occurs

Fever

headache

goosebumps

upset stomach

The pain caused by herpes zoster can be mild for some and severe for others.

Herpes zoster blisters most often appear on one side of the torso, but they can also occur on one side of the face, in or around the eye, or, in rare cases, all over the body. In some cases, there is no pain, says Ann. Louise Oakland, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

What is postherpetic neuralgia?

In some cases, people with herpes zoster may experience postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) The pain continues well after the blisters are gone. This happens because the nerves affected by herpes zoster continue to send pain signals to the brain.

In order to diagnose postherpetic neuralgia, the pain must last 90 days or longer after the blisters have cleared. Research varies, but it is estimated that postherpetic neuralgia affects 5 to 20 percent of people with shingles.

There are many factors that can lead to postherpetic neuralgia. “Anything that weakens immunity can increase your risk,” says Dr. Oakland“.

She adds, “Pherpetiform neuralgia gradually eases over time for everyone, but the rate of recovery can vary. As you get older, postherpetic neuralgia usually lasts longer. Older adults, who are most likely to get shingles, have a higher risk.” from developing postherpetic neuralgia that lasts for more than a year, sometimes for the rest of their lives “.