title: [Pain in herpes zoster: Prevention and treatment].
abstract: Shingles is a painful rash that results from reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus in the dorsal root ganglia or cranial nerves. In this article an update is presented on the prevention and pharmacological treatment of the secondary pain from the virus infection. The most effective way to prevent post-herpetic neuralgia and its consequences is the prevention of herpes itself. A live attenuated vaccine (the Oka strain varicella zoster virus) has been available for several years, and is approved in adults aged 50 years old. Although this vaccine has shown to be effective against herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia, its effectiveness decreases with age and is contraindicated in patients with some form of immunosuppression. Today the recombinant vaccines provide an alternative, and may be administered to immunocompromised persons.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud de Serantes, Ferrol, España. Electronic address: gabriel.calvo.mosquera@sergas.es.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calvo-Mosquera
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud de Serantes, Ferrol, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Cal
authors.affiliation: Cirugía General, Hospital General de Asturias, Oviedo, España.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Calvo-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud de Serantes, Ferrol, España.
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Primucci
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud de Serantes, Ferrol, España.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Plamenov-Dipchikov
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine
keywords: Chronic pain; Disease prevention; Dolor crónico; Herpes zoster; Herpes zoster vaccine; Herpes zóster; Neuralgia postherpética; Post-herpetic neuralgia; Prevención; Therapeutics; Tratamiento; Vacuna contra el herpes zóster