The incidence of HZ is known to be high among patients with associated diseases such as SLE, DM, HTN, RA, COPD, CKD, CHD, malignancies and HIV (59hata, 60heymann, 62buchbinnder, 66yang). Patients with hematologic cancers are more prone to HZ than those with solid cancers (57yenikomshian). HZ has also been reported to be high among patients with neurotic illness, psychosis, personality disorders and other mental disorders (66yang). The incidence of PHN following an HZ infection has also been noted to be high among old individuals. The patient’s quality of life can be affected due to the long duration of PHN. PHN mostly affects patients aged more than 50 years (39stein).
