Post-herpetic neuralgia
Post-herpetic neuralgia (pronunciation: post-hur-PET-ik noo-RAL-juh) is a complication of shingles, which is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV). The term is derived from the Greek words herpes, meaning "creeping", and neuralgia, meaning "nerve pain".
Definition
Post-herpetic neuralgia is a type of nerve pain that occurs at the site of a previous shingles rash. The pain can be severe and long-lasting, persisting for months or even years after the rash has healed.
Symptoms
The main symptom of post-herpetic neuralgia is pain in the area where the shingles rash occurred. This pain can be constant or intermittent, and it can range from mild to severe. Other symptoms may include sensitivity to touch, itching, numbness, and muscle weakness.
Causes
Post-herpetic neuralgia is caused by damage to the nerves during a shingles infection. The varicella zoster virus that causes shingles can damage the nerves and cause them to send abnormal pain signals to the brain.
Treatment
Treatment for post-herpetic neuralgia aims to manage pain and improve quality of life. This may include medications such as anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and opioids, as well as non-drug treatments such as nerve blocks and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
Prevention
The best way to prevent post-herpetic neuralgia is to prevent shingles. This can be achieved through vaccination with the shingles vaccine.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Post-herpetic neuralgia
- Wikipedia's article - Post-herpetic neuralgia
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