Postherpetic neuralgia, generally referred to as postherpetic neuralgia, occurs in 5% to 30% of patients with herpes zoster, with pain lasting for more than 1 year in 30% to 50% of these patients.
According to a 2014 review published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the incidence of both herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia increases with age. The annual incidence of herpes zoster is about 3.4 cases per 1,000 people, rising sharply from age 50 to about 11 cases per 1,000 people by age 90.
Postherpetic neuralgia (defined as chronic neuralgia in which pain persists for more than 1 month after healing of a skin lesion), analysis of data from the British General Practice Research Database showed that the incidence ranged from 8% at ages 50 to 54 years to 21% at ages 80 to 84 years.
Risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia include advanced age, severe symptoms of herpes zoster, concomitant rash, and presence of acute phase pain. Therefore, timely intervention to prevent disease progression and exacerbation at the onset of herpes zoster may reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia.
Warm tips: If you feel unwell, seek medical treatment promptly to avoid delays.