title: Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in the elderly.
abstract: This article describes herpes zoster (HZ), its cause, diagnosis, treatment, and associated complications. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication of HZ, is the primary focus of the discussion. PHN is defined broadly as chronic pain that persists after the characteristic vesicular rash of HZ has resolved.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, USA.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Simpkins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology