Clinics in geriatric medicine
-
Herpes zoster (HZ) afflicts millions of older adults annually and causes significant suffering from acute and chronic pain, or postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). HZ is caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in sensory ganglia in the setting of age, disease, and drug-related decline in cellular immunity. ⋯ For PHN, evidence-based pharmacotherapy can reduce pain burden. The zoster vaccine is effective in reducing pain burden and preventing HZ and PHN in older adults.