Correlation Analysis On Inducing Factors And Occurrence Of Postherpetic Neuralgia

Objective:This research is designed to investigating the herpes zoster in acutephase from perspective of epidemiology from all aspects and probing into therelevance between postherpetic neuralgia and inducing factors so as to providetheoretical foundation for preventing and reducing the occurrence of postherpeticneuralgia.Methods:Collected medical record information of69patients of herpes zosteradmitted during March to December2012,including their ages, rash occurring parts ofthe body, pain degree, whether there is premonitory pain or not, rash area, clinic type ofrash, first visit date, whether there is chronic systemic disease or not and the medicalcondition of acute phase. Based on the roles of dangerous factors in causingpostherpetic neuralgia reported by the past literatures, the researcher classified theseinvestigation items and sent them to10dermatology experts respectively. Based ontheir clinic experience, these experts itemized each investigation item and carried outcomprehensive analyses to figure out the value of each item and aggregate score.3or4months later, the researcher carried out telephone follow-ups to each patient to observewhether there was postherpetic neuralgia. The symptoms of pain, pruritus or paresthesia3months after the recovery of herpes zoster are considered as postherpetic neuralgia.Ordinary standards are applied to identify the feasibility of this assessment method.Result:Of the69patients,33males and36females, from22to91,the meanage64.14±19.14(range22to91).25patients suffered PHN,the mean age72.16±12.47.Score of0-3points13patients,and none of the patients had PHN,28patients with grade3-6points,8cases had PHN,28patients with6-9points,17casesof patients occured PHN.1.Age and PHN:69patients were divided into two group by age.There were20patients less than60years old,and of these patients there were2patients who suffered PHN.23patients suffered PHN in the other group.The incidence of the two group isdifferent significantly.The older,the higher the incidence.2.Setting and PHN:The setting was divided into intercostals nerve area,trigeminalnerve area,other neurological areas(lumbosacral nerve area,brachial plexus area,perinealnerve area).The incidence of PHN is not significant difference in setting.3.Severity of acute pain and PHN:According to the intensity of the pain,69patients were divided into three groups (mile,moderate,severe).The incidence of PHN isnot significant difference among the three groups.4.Prodromal pain and PHN:43patients had prodromal pain of69patients,and26patients had not.There is significantly difference between the two groups.5.Area of rash and PHN:According to the area of rash,these patients were dividedinto two groups(＜50cm2,≥50cm2).The incidence of PHN is significantly difference inthe area of lesions.6.Clinical types of herpes zoster and PHN:The clinical types were divided intobullous,vulgaris,haemorrhagic,abortive.The incidence of PHN is not different in theclinical type.7.Time of initial treatment,treat timely or not and PHN:Time of initialtreatment,treat timely or not were compared to,chi-square x2demonstrating theprevalence of PHN was not significant difference in the treat timely or not while time ofinitial treatment has statistical significant.8.Accompanied systemic disease and PHN:Patients with systemic diseasescompared the other people without systemic diseases,there is no significant differencein the incidence of PHN.9.Scores of risk factors and PHN:Statistical analysis was performde among thethree group,there is significant difference.The higer the score,the higer incidence ofPHN.Conclusion:1.PHN is more common in the elderly,The older the patient, the higher theincidence of PHN becomes.2.The incidence of PHN is not relevant to occurring parts or clinic types of rash,but to affected skin areas. The larger the skin area, the higher the incidence of PHN is.3. The incidence of PHN is related to the timing of first visit, but is not related tothe promptness of treatment. The earlier the first visit, the lower the incidence of PHNis. 4. The incidence of PHN is not related to the merger of systemic disease.5. PHN is correlated to the score of each dangerous factor. The higher the score,the higher dangerousness of PHN is.