Herpes Zoster with Postherpetic Neuralgia -- Persisting Pain and Frustration
- 31 March 1994
- journal article
- Published by Massachusetts Medical Society in New England Journal of Medicine
- Vol. 330 (13) , 932-934
- https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm199403313301312
Abstract
Herpes zoster (shingles) is an acute infection of the dorsal-root ganglia and skin caused by a reactivation of varicella-zoster virus, the cause of chickenpox. It is characterized by pain and vesicles on an erythematous base limited to one to three dermatomes. In immunocompromised persons, widespread viral infection of skin (disseminated zoster) and viscera may lead to fatal pneumonitis, hepatitis, or encephalitis.Zoster is common. The annual incidence in the United States is 4 per 1000 population1. After the age of 50 years, the rate of zoster increases to 5.1 per 1000 patients, and among octogenarians it is 10.1 per . . .Keywords
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