OBJECTIVES: The primary objectives of this study were to identify the demographic profiles and clinical characteristics of herpes zoster patients seen at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Section of Dermatology from 2003-2007, and to identify the predictors of persistent pain in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia.

METHODS: Medical records of patients clinically diagnosed ho have herpes zoster and a positive Tzanck smear were retrieved. Dermatology distribution, common presenting symptoms, characteristics of pain, duration of symptoms, co-morbidities, compliance in using antiviral therapies and complications were recorded. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to correlate possible predictors for development of zoster-associated pain.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 221 patients were included in this retrospective study. Pain was the most common presenting symptom of herpes zoster. The three most common complications observed were secondary bacterial infection, herpes zoster ophthalmicus and postherpetic neuralgia. Among the potential risk indicators examined, increasing age and duration of symptoms prior to consultation contributed independently to the incidence of zoster-associated pain.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged 80 And Over ; Herpes Zoster ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic