• Anne Louise Oaklander and Julia G Rissmiller.
• Neuropathic Pain Study Group, Departments of Anesthesiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
• Obstet Gynecol. 2002 Apr 1;99(4):625-8.

BackgroundVulvar shingles, an uncommon presentation of a common disease, probably affects 1.5 million American women during their lifetime and leaves about 150,000 with postherpetic neuralgia, a chronic neuropathic pain syndrome. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can minimize pain severity and duration.CasesThe case of an 88-year-old woman with sacral shingles is described. Complications led to her demise. A 35-year-old with a 6-year history of disabling vulvar pain and many diagnostic procedures was ultimately diagnosed with postherpetic neuralgia.ConclusionShingles needs to be included in the differential diagnosis of vulvar rashes because it is a modifiable risk factor for chronic vulvar pain. The possibility of postherpetic neuralgia must be considered in women with unexplained vulvar dysesthesia.

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