Komara Francis A
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, MI 48824-1315, USA.
J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2009 Jun;109(6 Suppl 2):S22-4.
The incidence and severity of herpes zoster increases with advancing age, as does its most common complication-postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). The most effective management strategy for herpes zoster and PHN is prevention of the disease through vaccination, particularly in the most vulnerable patient population (ie, individuals aged 70 years or older). The Shingles Prevention Study demonstrated that vaccination reduced the incidence and severity of herpes zoster, as well as the incidence of PHN. Despite the benefits of zoster immunization, administration of the vaccine may be met by certain barriers, including issues related to reimbursement, storage, and availability of the vaccine. Educating physicians and the public about the importance of herpes zoster prevention, while underscoring the pain associated with this disease and the challenges in managing it, will help to overcome these barriers.
带状疱疹的发病率和严重程度会随着年龄的增长而增加，其最常见的并发症——带状疱疹后神经痛（PHN）也是如此。针对带状疱疹和PHN最有效的管理策略是通过接种疫苗预防该病，尤其是在最脆弱的患者群体（即70岁及以上的个体）中。带状疱疹预防研究表明，接种疫苗可降低带状疱疹的发病率和严重程度，以及PHN的发病率。尽管带状疱疹免疫接种有诸多益处，但疫苗接种可能会遇到某些障碍，包括与报销、储存和疫苗可及性相关的问题。对医生和公众进行关于预防带状疱疹重要性的教育，同时强调与该病相关的疼痛以及治疗中的挑战，将有助于克服这些障碍。
