Diagnosis and assessment of pain associated with herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia.
Accurate evaluation of pain plays a critical role in identifying new interventions for the treatment and prevention of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Different types of pain and other sensory symptoms are found in patients with herpes zoster, and these vary greatly with respect to their presence, location, duration, intensity, and quality. The results of recent studies of herpes zoster and PHN and the development of new methods for assessing neuropathic pain provide a foundation for diagnosing and assessing the pain associated with herpes zoster. We review the results of recent research to identify the essential components that must be considered in developing an evidence-based description of pain associated with herpes zoster and PHN.


CONCLUSIONS
Comprehensive assessments of pain are necessary for clinical research on the epidemiology, natural history, pathophysiologic mechanisms, treatment, and prevention of pain in herpes zoster and PHN.
Dworkin
Robert H
RH
Department of Anesthesiology and Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. robert_dworkin@urmc.rochester.edu
Gnann
John W
JW
Oaklander
Anne Louise
AL
Raja
Srinivasa N
SN
Schmader
Kenneth E
KE
Whitley
Richard J
RJ
D000777:Anesthetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement
D000777:Anesthetics; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine