Corticosteroids for Preventing Postherpetic Neuralgia After Herpes Zoster Infection

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a painful condition of persistent chronic pain following acute reactivation of varicella zoster virus. The review defines PHN as persisting or recurring pain at the site of shingles at least 1 month after the onset of the acute rash. The incidence of shingles increases with age, almost doubling in each decade after 50 years of age. Of these cases, roughly 20% go on to develop PHN, with age again being the...