Although most patients tolerated the treatment well, there were five who
dropped out of the study early. Three of these patients dropped out due
to complications related to the therapy.
The research, which will appear in the July 2006 print issue of Archives
of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, is considered a small
study. The researchers said "Although our study was small and without
placebo control, the findings suggest a promising effect of antiviral
treatment on postherpetic neuralgia. Treatment of postherpetic
neuralgia with IV acyclovir will be expensive. However, elimination or
reduction of pain coupled with reduced burden of disease and use of
health care resources would offset treatment costs."
Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This
is the same virus that causes chickenpox, according to background
information in the article. The virus will remain dormant in the
nervous system for decades after infection with chickenpox. When the
virus becomes reactivated, it causes a rash and nerve pain called
postherpetic neuralgia. Postherpetic neuralgia can last for months or
years and affects as many as one million people in the United States.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved a drug produced
by Merck, Zostavax, for the prevention of shingles in individuals 60
years of age and older. This is the first and only medical option
approved for preventing shingles.
About
90 percent of all adults in the US have been infected with chickenpox.
The drug could reduce the incidence and severity of shingles
infections.
The disease usually starts as an unusual or painful sensation on one
side of the body or face, followed by a blistering rash. The problem is
that shingles can cause long term never pain. The pain has been
described as tender, burning, throbbing, stabbing, shooting and/or sharp
pain. Even the touch of soft clothing can cause pain. Other
complications include hearing loss, pneumonia, visual impairment, and
scaring.
Zostavax is not a treatment for shingles, but only a preventative
measure. It is hoped that the dual antiviral treatment can relieve the
nerve pain associated with shingles.
Dan Wilson
Best Syndication
Books about Pain
Keywords and misspellings: shingals shingels vires
herpes simplex chicken pox checken zostavax vaxine vacine
