Neurol. praxi. 2016;17(6):402-407 | DOI: 10.36290/neu.2016.084

Pitfalls of prodromal phase of herpes zoster and experience with pregabalin

MUDr. Irena Bednářová

Neurologické odd., Nemocnice a.s. Jindřichův Hradec

Pain as the most significant clinical symptom of herpes zoster (HZ, shingles) is classified as neuropathic pain. In the acute phase of skin eruption, it is referred to as herpetic neuralgia (HN). Pain, however, can occur as early as the pre-eruptive phase wherein various painful symptoms may be misdiagnosed, depending on the location, as a number of other conditions (e.g., ulcerous disease, renal colic, lumbar ischialgia, myocardial infarction, and others). If acute pain progresses to a chronic stage, it is referred to as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) the treatment of which is often very difficult. The case report presents a female patient with an unusually long prodromal phase of the disease as well as evaluates the effect of very early commencement of treatment for neuropathic pain with pregabalin, an adjuvant analgesic, both in terms of the relationship to acute HN and affecting the development of PHN.

Keywords: herpetic neuralgia, prodromal phase, neuropathic pain, pregabalin

Published: December 1, 2016  Show citation