Postherpetic neuralgia: an update of etiopathogenesis.

Abstract

: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is defined as a neuropathic pain (NP) that continues from months to years after the cure of the herpes zoster (HZ) infection. The PHN is the main prevalent HZ complication. The incidence of PHN is 10% in people > 40 years old, 20%-50% of people > 60 years old, and scarcely reported in people < 30 years old and it enhances with increased age and reduced immunity. Consequently, it was mainly reported in the elders. The diagnosis of PHN is relatively straightforward. The pathophysiology of PHN is poorly understood; different pathophysiologic processes seem to be involved with the development of HZ and PHN. Also, many treatment modalities have been applied to reach maximum efficacy and tolerability. This review article aims to optimize the most recent and the most accepted concepts on the etiopathogenesis of PHN which may help in finding the best lines of management with the most satisfactory outcomes.