POSTHERPETIC Meaning and
Definition
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Postherpetic is an adjective that refers to a medical condition or symptom that occurs after the resolution of herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles. Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus responsible for chickenpox. After an individual has had chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in the nerve tissues near the spinal cord and reemerge later in life as shingles.
Postherpetic describes the phase or aftermath of this reactivation. The term is typically used to describe the persistent and often excruciating pain that lingers after the shingles rash has healed. Once the rash subsides, some individuals may continue to experience nerve pain in the affected area, which can be severe and last for months or even years. This lingering pain is referred to as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
Postherpetic neuralgia occurs when the virus damages nerves during the shingles outbreak, leading to chronic pain signals being sent to the brain even after the rash has disappeared. The pain experienced can range from mild to severe and may be described as burning, shooting, or electric-like. It can significantly impact a person's quality of life, leading to sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression. Treatment options for postherpetic neuralgia may include antiviral medications, pain relievers, topical creams, antidepressants, and nerve blocks.
In summary, postherpetic is an adjective that pertains to a condition or symptom occurring after the resolution of shingles, particularly referring to persistent nerve pain known as postherpetic neuralgia.
Common Misspellings for POSTHERPETIC
- oostherpetic
- lostherpetic
- -ostherpetic
- 0ostherpetic
- pistherpetic
- pkstherpetic
- plstherpetic
- ppstherpetic
- p0stherpetic
- p9stherpetic
- poatherpetic
- poztherpetic
- poxtherpetic
- podtherpetic
- poetherpetic
- powtherpetic
- posrherpetic
- posfherpetic
- posgherpetic
- posyherpetic
Etymology of POSTHERPETIC
The word "postherpetic" is derived from combining two elements: "post-" and "herpetic".
1. "Post-" is a prefix that originates from the Latin preposition "post", meaning "after" or "behind".
2. "Herpetic" is an adjective form of the noun "herpes", which comes from the Greek word "herpēs" meaning "a creeping skin eruption" or "a crawling skin disease".
When combined, the word "postherpetic" refers to a condition or phenomenon occurring after or following the outbreak of herpes. Specifically, it is commonly used to describe the long-lasting nerve pain experienced after an episode of herpes zoster (also known as shingles).
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