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Specific nursing care about a patient with postherpetic neuralgia
RADOVÁ, Ludmila
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a still widespread viral disease caused by the varicella virus, the same as that responsible for chicken pox, and similarly contagious. Any case of the disease is a strong reason to see a doctor immediately, since proper treatment started in good time can prevent complications. The clients are administered primarily antiviral drugs supported by analgesics to kill the pain. The concomitant blisterlike eruption is treated with liquid powder.In case the treatment is neglected or the medical help sought belatedly, the disease already cured can entail so-called postherpetic neuralgia, a pain that the sufferers describe as shooting, searing, unbearable and persistent. It is a chronic condition attributable to the nervous system and difficult to cure. The disease develops in about 20% of population. The pain is considered postherpetic when it lasts longer than 4 weeks. No exact cause of the pain is known yet, but the experts may ascribe it, for example, to the late beginning of treatment; to improper therapy; or to an overdue appearance at a medical office in case the pain persists. This subject was chosen for the paper since the author encountered several cases of the neuralgia when working at an Outpatient's Department for Neurology. Moreover, the author did not succeed in finding the subject directly addressed in literature, which is true particularly of the specific nursing care.For that reason the author has chosen as Objective 1 to map the specific features of nursing care given to patients suffering the postherpetic neuralgia and as Objective 2 to make an inquiry into the role that nurses can play in the prevention of postherpetic neuralgia. The research questions then followed from the Objectives. Question 1: What are the specific features of nursing care delivered to postherpetic neuralgia patients? Question 2: Which role can a nurse fulfill in the prevention of postherpetic neuralgias? The Bachelor paper relied on the qualitative method of investigation applied through guided interviews and observation. Thus interviewed were two research sets: one consisting of 5 nurses from the Pain-Relief O.D. or the Neurology O.D., and another comprising 5 clients attending the Outpatient's Departments. The interviews were conducted so as to receive answers to the research questions.Interviews carried out with the nurses brought about a wealth of information useful in developing special methods of nursing clients with postherpetic neuralgia as regards the care of skin; imparting infection-related information; assessment of pain; care of mental condition; and the dietary regimen of the clients. All items of information thus obtained were verified in interviews conducted with the clients.This research question yielded the following findings: nurses engaged in the prevention of postherpetic neuralgia should consistently keep the clients informed, educated and instructed in the proper and regular use of medicines, in the importance of adherence to the prescribed treatment, and in any other regimen measures. Equally important is a timely appearance at a doctor's office, both when the blisters start erupting and when the pain does not stop.Information acquired in the survey could serve to improve the quality of nursing care provided to clients suffering the postherpetic neuralgia.
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