Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2026
10:35
Microvascular Decompression: Salient Surgical Principles and Technical Nuances
Published on: July 5, 2011
47.4K
Postherpetic Neuralgia and Trigeminal Neuralgia
L Feller1, R A G Khammissa1, J Fourie1
1Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa.
Pain Research and Treatment
|January 24, 2018
Summary
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and trigeminal neuralgia are debilitating neuropathic pain conditions. This review discusses their causes, symptoms, and treatments, including prevention strategies for PHN.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Medicine
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a complication of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection, impacting quality of life, especially in elderly and immunocompromised individuals.
- Classical trigeminal neuralgia is a severe neuropathic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve, often idiopathic or due to vascular compression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the etiopathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment of PHN.
- To review the etiopathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment of classical trigeminal neuralgia.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of etiopathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment of PHN and trigeminal neuralgia.
- Discussion of preventive strategies for PHN, including vaccination and early antiviral therapy.
- Outline of treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia, including pharmacotherapy and surgical interventions.
Main Results:
- PHN prevention involves HZ vaccination, early antivirals, and acute pain management.
- PHN treatment can be challenging, with partial effectiveness.
- First-line treatment for trigeminal neuralgia includes carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine; surgery is an option for refractory cases.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of PHN and trigeminal neuralgia requires understanding their distinct etiopathogenesis and tailored treatment approaches.
- Early intervention and comprehensive pain management are crucial for improving outcomes in PHN and trigeminal neuralgia patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Cranial Nerves: Types Part I
Cranial nerves are responsible for transmitting motor and sensory information between the brain and various parts of the body. There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves, with the first six being essential in sensory perception, motor control, and autonomic functions related to the head and neck.
Olfactory Nerve (Cranial Nerve I)
The olfactory nerve, or cranial nerve I, is unique as it is purely sensory and dedicated to the sense of smell. This nerve originates in the olfactory epithelium of the...
Olfactory Nerve (Cranial Nerve I)
The olfactory nerve, or cranial nerve I, is unique as it is purely sensory and dedicated to the sense of smell. This nerve originates in the olfactory epithelium of the...
01:20Sympathetic Pathways: Sympathetic Chain Ganglia
The sympathetic chain ganglia, also known as the sympathetic trunk ganglia or paravertebral ganglia, are a series of ganglia located bilaterally on either side of the spinal column. These ganglia serve as relay stations for the sympathetic nervous system. Preganglionic neurons originating in the spinal cord project their axons to the sympathetic chain ganglia. Within the ganglia, these preganglionic fibers synapse with postganglionic neurons.The postganglionic neurons of the sympathetic trunk...
01:28Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...
01:28Herpes
Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV‑1) is a widespread pathogen responsible for orolabial lesions. It is an enveloped, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus belonging to the family Herpesviridae. Once the virus infects a host cell, its double‑stranded DNA genome is delivered into the nucleus, where a coordinated cascade of immediate‑early, early, and late gene expression directs viral DNA replication, structural protein synthesis, and virion assembly. After primary infection of epithelial cells, HSV-1...
01:20Chickenpox
Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...
01:23Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection primarily caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), though herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is increasingly implicated in genital infections, particularly among younger populations. Transmission occurs mainly through sexual contact, with asymptomatic viral shedding serving as a major route of spread. This characteristic makes HSV-2 difficult to control at a population level, as individuals may unknowingly transmit the virus even in the...