A clinical investigation on Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Dr Jia-shuang Wang, Dr Jia-jin Bao, Dr Xing Wei and Wen-qiong Du,

Department of Pain Medincine of Jinan University. Guangzhou 510220.

Abstract Objective Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of typical painful diseases among that peripheral nerve injury pain after virus infection. The investigation data is reported from the department of pain medicine of Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University since 2004. Methods There are 686 cases, in-patient and out-patient, of PHN are investigated and index of pain types, clinical sub-type, comorbidities and remain symptoms in zoster area are used. Results lightning pain, lancinating pain, burning pain and mixed type pain are main types in clinical and average VAS score is 6.8. There are four sub-clinical types, irritable nociceptor group(57.14%), normal nociceptor group (2.77%), deafferentation group(22.16%) and central reorganization group(17.93%), can be seen during the investigation,respectively. Conclusion The pain duration in this group is more than 3 months, even longer to 8 years, pain is middle to serious degree in clinic and the quality of life or/and working ability are significantly decreased for most of PHN patients.