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Senile pruritus is one of the most common conditions in the elderly or people over 65 years of age with an emerging itch that may be accompanied with changes in temperature and textural characteristics. [1] [2] [3] In the elderly, xerosis, is the most common cause for an itch due to the degradation of the skin barrier over time. [4]
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster or zona, [6] is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a localized area. [2] [7] Typically the rash occurs in a single, wide mark either on the left or right side of the body or face. [1]
Treatment is generally with antiviral pills such as acyclovir. Steroid eye drops and drops to dilate the pupil may also be used. The herpes zoster vaccine is recommended for prevention in those over the age of 50. [2] HZO is the second most common manifestation of shingles, the first being involvement of skin of the thorax.
Shingles vaccination is the only way for adults to be protected against both shingles and postherpetic neuralgia, with two vaccines approved for use in people over age 50. [3] The zoster vaccine Shingrix provides around 90% protection from postherpetic neuralgia, and has been used in many countries since 2017.
Herpes zoster (shingles) most often occurs in the elderly and is only rarely seen in children. The incidence of herpes zoster in vaccinated adults is 0.9/1000 person-years, and is 0.33/1000 person-years in vaccinated children; this is lower than the overall incidence of 3.2–4.2/1000 person-years.
Valaciclovir, also spelled valacyclovir, is an antiviral medication used to treat outbreaks of herpes simplex or herpes zoster (shingles). [2] It is also used to prevent cytomegalovirus following a kidney transplant in high risk cases. [2] It is taken by mouth. [2] Common side effects include headache and vomiting. [2]
It is primarily used for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections, chickenpox, and shingles. [6] Other uses include, prevention of cytomegalovirus infections following transplant, and severe complications of Epstein–Barr virus infection. [6] [7] It can be taken by mouth, applied as a cream, or injected. [6]
Preherpetic neuralgia is a form of nerve pain specifically associated with a Shingles (herpes zoster) viral infection. This nerve pain often precedes visible indications of a Shingles infection and consequently can be a key early indicator of a need to begin preventative anti-viral drug therapy.