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Stephen E. Chiarello, MD
From the Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center of Southwest Florida, Port Charlotte.

Arch Dermatol. 1998;134:279-281.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

REPORT OF CASES

Twenty-six patients with herpetic neuralgia were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 13 patients with acute herpetic neuralgia, arbitrarily defined as pain beginning from 0 days to 3 months after the onset of herpes zoster infection. Group 2 consisted of 13 patients treated during the course of the postherpetic neuralgia, arbitrarily defined as pain lasting 3 months or more from the onset of the herpes zoster outbreak.

Initial pain was scored subjectively by the patient on a scale of 0 to 10. Zero equaled no pain; 1 to 4, a level of pain that was annoying without having substantial effects on the patient's lifestyle; 5 to 9, pain that affected normal routines and activities; and 10, unbearable pain that was extremely incapacitating.

THERAPEUTIC CHALLENGE

Pain from herpes zoster infection, whether acute or chronic, continues to be a vexing problem despite the widespread use of antiviral medications. . . . [Full Text of this Article]

SOLUTION

COMMENT