Abstract
IntroductionHerpes zoster is caused by a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. Clinically, the disease manifests with pain in the area of a dermatome associated with vesicular exanthema. The most common complication is post-herpetic neuralgia, more frequent among elderly patients. The treatment focuses on the control of the acute infection, relief of acute pain, and prevention of chronic pain. First line treatment is pharmacological using antiviral and analgesic drugs, and epidural injections have been used for the prevention of post-herpetic neuralgia. ObjectiveThe objective of this article is to present a review of the literature on the basis of a case report of a patient diagnosed with herpes zoster who was treated with cervical epidural infusions for 16 days. Materials and methodsSearch conducted in PUBMED, including meta-analyses, systematic reviews, clinical trials, narrative reviews and case series published between 1995 and 2012, in order to perform a non-systematic narrative review in reference to a case report. ResultsOverall, 31 articles were selected for an update of the topic proposed, and a case report was described. ConclusionsThe use of epidural infusions in patients with herpes zoster is a treatment option for acute pain; it favors passive motion of the affected limb preventing atrophy, helps prevent post-herpetic neuralgia, is available in our setting, and has a low incidence of complications.
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