Understanding post-herpetic neuralgia in older people

Post-herpetic neuralgia is an unpleasant complication of shingles, that predominantly affects older people. Margaret Perry discusses the prevalence, risk factors and managment of this challenging condition Shingles, or herpes zoster, will affect 10–20% of the population at some point in their life. Post-herpetic neuralgia is a complication of shingles that is more common in older people. Post-herpetic neuralgia results in persisting pain which may continue for months or even years after the shingles rash has resolved. The pathophysiology of this condition is not well understood. Risk factors for developing post-herpetic neuralgia include the site of the shingles rash and age. The management of post-herpetic neuralgia can be difficult and the risk of interaction with other medications must be considered, particularly in older people. Vaccination can reduce the risk of shingles and the incidence of complications.