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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffPostherpetic neuralgia (post-her-PET-ic noo-RAL-jah) is a painful condition affecting your nerve fibers and skin. The burning pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia can be severe enough to interfere with sleep and appetite.
Postherpetic neuralgia is a complication of shingles, which is caused by the chickenpox virus. Most cases of shingles clear up within a few weeks. But if the pain lasts long after the shingles rash and blisters have disappeared, it's called postherpetic neuralgia.
The risk of postherpetic neuralgia increases with age, primarily affecting people over the age of 60. Effective treatment of postherpetic neuralgia is difficult, and the pain can last for months or even years.
- Bajwa ZH, et al. Postherpetic neuralgia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 11, 2010.
- Sampathkumar P, et al. Herpes zoster (shingles) and postherpetic neuralgia. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2009;84:274.
- Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00021-3--s0825&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00021-3--s0845&uniq=188689159&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=966992901#lpState=opened&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00021-3--st0755%3Bfrom%3Dcontent%3Bisbn%3D978-0-7234-3541-9%3Btype%3DbookPage. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Vora A, et al. Postherpetic neuralgia. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/188689159-4/966996765/1678/116.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50103-6_1654. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Martin DM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 22, 2010.
- Practice parameter: Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. St. Paul, Minn.: Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. http://www.guidelines.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=5989&nbr=003947&string=postherpetic. Accessed March 12, 2010.
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