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1 CPD hour

Dr Jennifer Langdon describes the signs and symptoms of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia, along with the diagnosis and management of this commonly encountered condition affecting older people. Key learning points for healthcare professionals include prophylaxis and pain management of post-herpetic neuralgia.

Educational objectives

After taking this activity healthcare professionals should be better able to:

• Describe the signs and symptoms of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia
• List the risk factors for post-herpetic neuralgia
• Understand the best ways to prevent post-herpetic neuralgia
• Prescribe appropriate analgesia for patients with post-herpetic neuralgia
• Know when to refer patients