Postherpetic neuralgia
Post-herpetic (post-herpes) neuralgia, also known as ringworm, is a complication after infection with the herpes virus that causes chicken pox. The soreness and neuralgia will usually go away in a few weeks If the pain does not go away after the rash disappears, the condition is called postherpetic neuralgia.
Postherpetic neuralgia damages nerve fibers and skin, is characterized by a burning sensation and pain. The pain of postherpetic neuralgia can be so strong that it causes problems with insomnia or lack of appetite. The risk of postherpetic neuralgia increases with age, mostly over 60 years Which place on the skin is damaged is important When the rash is on the face, the risk of postherpetic neuralgia is greater than when the rash is on other parts of the body.
Currently, there is no cure for postherpetic neuralgia, but there are therapies to relieve symptoms. In most cases, postherpetic neuralgia is reversible
If you have chickenpox, the virus that caused the infection stays in your body for the rest of your life As you get older, the virus reactivates Sometimes, it develops during a stressful state of the body, due to an infection or the use of immunosuppressive drugs As a result, a rash develops Because there is immunity against the virus, the rash appears only on one part of the skin instead of the whole body On the section on which the corresponding nerve experienced reactivation of the virus
Postherpetic neuralgia develops when the nerve endings are damaged by the rash. Damaged endings can no longer send signals from the skin to the brain as they normally do Instead, signals from the nerve endings go awry, leading to chronic, severe pain that sometimes lasts for months or years.
Signs and symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia are generally limited to the affected skin area where the rash first appeared. This place is often located on one side of the body, around the torso
Signs and symptoms include:
- pain Postherpetic neuralgia pain is described as sharp, piercing, burning, or dull, aching.
- Increased sensitivity to light touch In postherpetic neuralgia, the patient experiences pain during light touch, for example, when putting on clothes This condition is called allodynia
- Itching and decreased sensitivity Rarely, postherpetic neuralgia causes itching and decreased sensitivity
- Weakness and paralysis In rare cases, the patient may describe muscle weakness or paralysis if the nerves involved are responsible for muscle movement.
When to see a doctor See a doctor as soon as a rash appears Often, the pain appears earlier than the discharge If you take antiviral drugs within 72 hours of the appearance of the rash, the risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia is cut in half. Sometimes, doctors also prescribe steroids for temporary symptomatic treatment, although their role in preventing postherpetic neuralgia has not yet been established.
