Postherpetic neuralgia is a type of viral infection affecting the nerve cells. It occurs as after effect of shingles infection. PHN causes burning intense pain on the affected area of the body, due to damage of nerve cells. Pain may last for many months or even a year for some people. People who have got shingles infection are at high risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia. Treatment for PHN is available in the form of painkiller drugs. You can prevent PHN and shingles by vaccination.
Causes :
The underlying nerve cells are damaged when the HZ virus passes down from the skin till the nerve of the affected area. Shingles are so severe infection that it causes blisters or lesions on the skin. Normally the viruses will be destroyed by antiviral medications and further treatment. However the virus may still remain dormant inside the body in the dorsal root cells. Not all the people affected with shingles infection would develop PHN. Only few (9-14%) of the people may develop PHN after few months.
Who Are At Risk ?
People who have got shingles infection are at high risk of getting PHN after 2-3 months. Aged people and people with weakened immunity have increased risk of developing PHN after shingles. Family history also plays role in PHN disorder since close relatives of affected people (with PHN) are at risk of getting PHN later.
Postherpetic Neuralgia Symptoms :
Intense burning pain on the affected body part is the only symptom of PHN. The person who gets shingles infection will develop painful blisters on the skin in some part of his body. After the infection is treated completely, the blisters may disappear leaving a scar. But the nerve cells below are totally damaged by severe infection, which may cause jabbing pain. The pain may become so severe that the person affected cannot even tolerate slight rubbing of clothing over the affected area. In extreme cases, the affected part of the body may become paralyzed due to damaged nerves.