What is postherpetic neuralgia?

Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common complication of herpes zoster. It is defined as the presence of pain after skin lesions have healed, or pain lasting more than 3 months after the onset of cutaneous lesions. The pain is often severe and debilitating. Overall, it occurs in 10% to 15% of patients, but the incidence increases dramatically with age so that over half of patients with herpes zoster who are older than 60 years develop postherpetic neuralgia. Other risk factors include prominent prodromal symptoms and moderate or severe pain at presentation. In most cases, postherpetic neuralgia resolves spontaneously within the first 12 months, but it may persist for years.

Sampathkumar P, Drage LA, Martin DP: Herpes zoster (shingles) and postherpetic neuralgia, Mayo Clin Proc 84:274–280, 2009.