{"title":"Zoster-associated pain: what is known, who is at risk and how can it be managed?","authors":"Robert W Johnson","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Herpes zoster episodes commence with a prodromal period of about 4 days with symptoms including pain and malaise. This is followed by a rash lasting approximately 2-4 weeks, with possible subacute herpetic neuralgia for up to 3 months, followed, in some patients, by a period of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) lasting months or possibly years. Severe acute pain is more likely in older females and those with a prodrome or severe rash. Two separate mechanisms of PHN have been proposed: the first is that the excitability of primary afferent neurons is increased after nerve damage, causing irritable nociceptors and central sensitization, resulting in pain and allodynia; the second involves the degeneration of nociceptive neurons, which leads to deafferentation with central hyperactivity, causing pain but without allodynia. Both mechanisms may co-exist in an individual patient. Treatments for acute herpes zoster and PHN include established antivirals, alone or in combination with steroids, analgesics and neural blockade with local anaesthetics. Commonly used pain relief includes acetaminophen/paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioid analgesics, tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin, pregabalin and topical analgesics. Effective and long-lasting pain relief in herpes zoster and PHN remains a largely unmet medical need.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 Suppl 2 ","pages":"30-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27051807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Severe complications of herpes zoster.","authors":"Antonio Volpi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The usual presentation of herpes zoster is as a self-limiting vesicular rash, often accompanied by post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), its most common complication. However, herpes zoster can give rise to other complications, many of which have unusual presentations and serious sequelae. The incidence and burden of many of these less common complications are poorly understood. Ocular complications of ophthalmic zoster are relatively frequent but, with early antiviral therapy, need not be sight-threatening. Delayed contralateral hemiparesis is a rare complication of ophthalmic zoster that may present as stroke, temporally remote from the zoster episode. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is caused by reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) involving the facial nerve; facial paralysis, ear pain and vesicles in the ear are diagnostic. Facial paralysis in the absence of vesicles may indicate zoster sine herpete, which can be mistaken for Bell's palsy. Herpetic facial palsies may respond to combination therapy with an antiviral plus steroid, but further research is needed to determine the benefit of such treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 Suppl 2 ","pages":"35-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27051808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Herpes zoster in immunocompromised patients.","authors":"Antonio Volpi, Lawrence Stanberry","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 2","pages":"31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27050657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Varicella zoster virus: natural history and current therapies of varicella and herpes zoster.","authors":"Judy Breuer, Richard Whitley","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The natural history of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection and the molecular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis are incompletely understood. Although no animal model yet reproduces all aspects of VZV infection, recently developed models of VZV infection, and the creation of genetically altered VZV recombinants, are yielding new information about primary viraemia and latency. During viraemia, T-cells transport VZV to the skin, where cell-free viral replication facilitates person-to-person spread and transmission to the neurons where latency is established. The alternate viral pathways of lytic infection or latency appear to be cell-type determined and involve both host and viral components. Antiviral therapy for varicella is safe and efficacious, and as varicella in children is usually mild, treatment is generally recommended only for adolescents and adults with varicella. Treatment is recommended for all individuals with herpes zoster, especially those aged over 50 years. For some varicella and zoster cases, aciclovir, the original standard, is being replaced by valaciclovir and famciclovir as preferred therapies. For herpes zoster, bromovinyl deoxyuridine (brivudin) has been added to the list of treatment options for immunocompetent individuals, but is contraindicated in patients with cancer. Antiviral therapy will still have a role in the treatment of disease caused by VZV even after the widespread implementation of vaccination programmes for both chickenpox and herpes zoster.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 Suppl 2 ","pages":"25-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27051806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Global strategies to prevent herpes zoster and its associated complications.","authors":"Robert W Johnson, Paul Griffiths","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 Suppl 2 ","pages":"24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27051805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Situational antiviral drug prophylaxis for HSV type 1 recurrences.","authors":"Christopher Hull, Spotswood Spruance","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recurrent herpes simplex virus type 1 infection is generally associated with mild morbidity. However, frequent recurrences may have a significant psychosocial impact, and reactivation in certain high-risk situations may cause considerable morbidity. Controlled trials demonstrate that antiviral drug prophylaxis can be efficacious in selected circumstances; even for other situations, clinical reports suggest that such antiviral drug prophylaxis remains effective.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 2","pages":"37-40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27050659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevention strategies: herpes zoster, post-herpetic neuralgia and immunogenicity.","authors":"Myron J Levin, Kenneth Schmader","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Herpes zoster is a common condition that can have a significant impact on quality of life among older adults. A significant proportion of older subjects with herpes zoster develop post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a chronic condition that is difficult to treat. The Shingles Prevention Study was a large-scale clinical trial to determine the efficacy of a live, attenuated varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccine ('zoster vaccine') for preventing or attenuating herpes zoster in subjects aged > or =60 years. A total of 38 546 subjects were given either zoster vaccine or placebo. The burden of illness (pain severity-by-duration), incidence of herpes zoster, and PHN decreased by 61.1%, 51.3% and 66.5% (all P<0.001), respectively, following vaccination. Vaccine efficacy was maintained for a 4-year follow-up period. A sub-study of the vaccine trial evaluated VZV-specific immunity in approximately 1200 vaccine or placebo recipients prior to vaccination, at 3 months and annually for 3 years. VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was boosted significantly by the zoster vaccine. This boost remained substantially intact for the 3 years of follow-up. It is likely that the vaccine-induced boost in VZV-specific CMI reversed the natural decline in these responses that occurs as part of the ageing process, thereby protecting vaccine recipients against herpes zoster and its complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 Suppl 2 ","pages":"45-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27051810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Case report: herpes meningitis complicating genital herpes presenting as anal fissure.","authors":"Ravi Marudanayagam, Thu Linn, Antony D Fox","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 33-year-old woman presented with stabbing perianal pain and intermittent headache and photophobia. Examination revealed atypical multiple perianal fissures with non-specific neurological findings. Polymerase chain reaction of the perianal swab and cerebrospinal fluid examination confirmed the diagnosis of perianal herpes simplex type 2 ulcer with herpes meningitis. This report emphasizes the importance of performing further investigations on patients with atypical anal fissures with or without systemic symptoms and signs to avoid misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment and prolonged discomfort.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 2","pages":"48-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27050662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ammar M Ahmed, Julie S Brantley, Vandana Madkan, Natalia Mendoza, Stephen K Tyring
{"title":"Managing herpes zoster in immunocompromised patients.","authors":"Ammar M Ahmed, Julie S Brantley, Vandana Madkan, Natalia Mendoza, Stephen K Tyring","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Herpes zoster infections are more common and often more complicated in immunocompromised patients. The key clinical objective in these patients is to reduce the incidence of cutaneous and visceral dissemination that can lead to life-threatening complications. This is best achieved with prompt antiviral therapy, which should be instituted in all immunosuppressed zoster patients if presentation occurs within 1 week of rash onset or any time before full crusting of lesions. For localized disease, most patients can be treated with oral valaciclovir, famciclovir or aciclovir, with close outpatient follow-up. Intravenous aciclovir therapy is reserved for those with disseminated varicella zoster virus infection, ophthalmic involvement, very severe immunosuppression or the inability to take oral medications. Foscarnet is the drug of choice to treat aciclovir-resistant herpes zoster. Appropriate analgesic therapy should be combined with early antiviral treatment to reduce the incidence and severity of acute zoster pain and post-herpetic neuralgia.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 2","pages":"32-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27050658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Factors affecting an economic model for zoster vaccination.","authors":"Giovanni Fattore","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Results from the recent Shingles Prevention Study indicate that zoster vaccination can reduce the incidence and severity of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), raising the possibility of a widespread vaccination programme. Such a programme would incur substantial costs, mandating the need for rigorous cost-effectiveness analyses prior to implementation. Suitably robust analyses of the cost benefits of zoster vaccination, capturing the duration of benefits and impact on quality of life resulting from vaccination, are lacking. Any economic model would need to consider current estimates of the economic burden of zoster and PHN in unvaccinated populations, as well the predicted effects of zoster vaccination on health improvements (e.g. reductions in zoster and PHN morbidity, improved quality of life, incidence of adverse effects), and costs for the health system and society at large (e.g. reductions in healthcare costs, variations in the costs of administering the vaccine) in different regions. Economic estimates of the burden of zoster and PHN in unvaccinated populations are scarce, and further studies are needed to measure the impact of these prevention strategies in different regions of the world.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 Suppl 2 ","pages":"52-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27050656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}