title: [Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia].
abstract: Herpes zoster develops by endogenous reactivation of varizella zoster virus (VZV). Incidence increases with age. Females are more frequently affected than males. The reactivation rate in seropositive individuals is about 20 %. After a short prodromal stage, herpetiform-grouped vesicles appear in segmental arrangement. Pain and paresthesia are typical zoster symptoms. Complications like bacterial superinfections, vasculopathy, paresis, and oculopathy may occur. During pregnancy herpes zoster is a threat for mother and child. Among elderly patients, cardiovascular risk is increased during the first week of herpes zoster infection. Postherpetic neuropathy is feared. Diagnosis can be made clinically and by the use of polymerase chain reaction. First-line treatment is systemic antiviral drug therapy with either acyclovir or brivudine. Adjuvant therapies consist of pain management and topical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, Krankenhaus Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Städtisches Klinikum Dresden, Friedrichstr. 41, 01067, Dresden, Deutschland. wollina-uw@khdf.de.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wollina
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik, Krankenhaus Dresden-Neustadt, Städtisches Klinikum Dresden, Industriestr. 40, 01129, Dresden, Deutschland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Machetanz
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: Acyclovir; Brivudine; Polymerase chain reaction; Reactivation; Vaccination