Preherpetic neuralgia is a form of nerve pain (
neuralgia
Neuralgia (Greek ''neuron'', "nerve" + ''algos'', "pain") is pain in the distribution of one or more nerves, as in intercostal neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Classification
Under the general heading of neuralg ...
) specifically associated with a
Shingles
Shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a localized area. Typically the rash occurs in a single, wide mark either on the left or right side of the body or face. ...
(herpes zoster) viral infection. This nerve pain often precedes visible indications of a Shingles infection and consequently can be a key early indicator of a need to begin preventative anti-viral drug therapy. Pain associated with Shingles can be extremely difficult to treat whereas the source is related to the virus attacking the nervous system itself. Pain symptoms can last months or years beyond any outward sign of viral infection and can be quite severe. The combination of extreme pain severity and longevity can contribute to chronic depression and even suicide.
See also
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Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2
Inflammation of the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve is a late consequence of ''varicella zoster'' virus (VZV) known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS), commonly known as herpes zoster oticus. In regards with the frequency, less than 1% of vari ...
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Postherpetic neuralgia
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is neuropathic pain that occurs due to damage to a peripheral nerve caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (herpes zoster, also known as shingles). Typically, the nerve pain (neuralgia) is confined t ...
References
Further reading
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*{{cite journal , last1=Segal , first1=Alan Z. , title=A Vaccine to Prevent Shingles—treating Post-herpetic Neuralgia in a Pre-herpetic State , journal=Neurology Alert , volume=23 , issue=12 , year=2005 , pages=92–3 , url=https://insights.ovid.com/neurology-alert/nrga/2005/08/000/vaccine-prevent-shingles-treating-post-herpetic/4/00476940
Herpes simplex virus–associated diseases
Diseases and disorders