Treatment and Prevention Strategies for Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia in Older Adults

Herpes zoster (HZ) affects millions of older adults annually worldwide and lowers quality of life in a substantial number of older individuals via acute and chronic pain or postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Herpes zoster is caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in sensory ganglia and is spread in afferent peripheral nerves in the setting of age, disease, and drug-related decline in cellular immunity to VZV. This article reviews treatment strategies and recent research for the prevention and treatment of HZ and PHN. Pharmacotherapeutic strategies to reduce HZ pain include an...