Postherpetic Neuralgia — Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention

Spontaneous pain, pain provoked by trivial stimuli, and altered sensation accompany herpes zoster and may continue long after its characteristic rash has healed — a condition known as postherpetic neuralgia. Many approaches have been proposed to treat the pain of acute zoster, to avert its progression to postherpetic neuralgia, and to alleviate postherpetic neuralgia. Few of these approaches have been proved beneficial, and postherpetic neuralgia remains a source of frustration for both patients and physicians. In this article, we summarize current knowledge of the pathogenesis of postherpetic neuralgia and developments in its treatment and prevention. Clinical Disease Herpes zoster typically . . .