Abstract

SANZ POZO, B.; QUINTANA GOMEZ, J. L.  and  MARTIN GONZALEZ, I.. Management of acute event of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia. Medifam [online]. 2002, vol.12, n.3, pp.27-39. ISSN 1131-5768.

Herpes zoster results from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. It is more commom in elderly and inmunocompromised patients. The clinical course of herpes zoster, in patients of Primary Health Care and younger than 60 years of age, is beningn and without complications. The main complication of herpes zoster is the postherpetic neuralgia, which is pain that appears in the affected dermatome after the resolution of the rash. It is difficult to establish management issues, due to the fact that there do not exist consensus protocols. In general, des-pite the limited evidence, antiviral drugs are used in patients with high risk of developing a severe illness and/or postherpetic neuralgia, such as elderly, inmunocompromised patients and patients with ophthalmic zoster.

Keywords : Herpes zoster; Treatment; Postherpetic neuralgia; Prevention; Primary Health Care; Antiviral agents.

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