Program Description:
This activity, Reducing the Burden of Herpes Zoster & Postherpetic Neuralgia, is devoted to a better understanding of the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of herpes zoster, which affects quality of life and jeopardizes independent living, particularly in the elderly population. It is more common in individuals aged ≥50 years and is estimated to affect 1 million Americans annually. The incidence and severity of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) increase with age. The activity also discusses the differential diagnosis of herpes zoster and the other diseases that have similar signs and symptoms.
Activity Objectives:
At the conclusion of this CME activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe the prevalence, incidence, and potential complications of herpes zoster
- Identify the risk factors, presenting signs and symptoms, and diagnostic criteria for herpes zoster
- Summarize the quality-of-life issues that affect patients with herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)
- Discuss available treatments for the management of herpes zoster and PHN, and the potential benefits of the herpes zoster vaccine
- Apply practice strategies aimed at reducing the incidence, severity, duration, and burden of herpes zoster and PHN
| Credits |
Type |
Accreditation Statement |
Designation Statement |
| 2.00 |
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
|
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Albert Einstein College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians and other health-care providers. |
Albert Einstein College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. |
Faculty:
Michael N. Oxman, MD (Program Chair)
Professor of Medicine and Pathology
University of California San Diego
Staff Physician (Infectious Diseases)
VA San Diego Health System
San Diego, California
Kenneth E. Schmader, MD
Chief, Division of Geriatrics
Duke University Medical Center
Director, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center
Durham VA Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina
CME Course Director
Ira M. Leviton, MD, FACP
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, New York
Disclosures:
Michael N. Oxman, MD is National Chairman of VA Cooperative Study #403: “The Shingles Prevention Study” and its substudies, which have been supported, in part, by grants from Merck & Co., Inc., to the VA Cooperative Studies Program, the VA San Diego Medical Research Foundation, and the VA Connecticut Research and Education Foundation.
Kenneth E. Schmader, MD has received grant/research support from Merck and Co., Inc.
Ira M. Leviton, MD, FACP, CME Course Director, has served on advisory boards and is a member of the speakers’ bureaus for Astellas Pharmaceuticals, Cubist, Pfizer Inc., and Wyeth.
This program is sponsored by Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
This program is supported by an educational grant from Merck & Co., Inc.
Instructions:
To obtain credit, you must have 70 percent or more of the answers correct. This CME is offered at no cost to participants. Please proceed with the course until you have successfully completed this program and have received your digital copy of your credit certificate. Your online certificate will be saved on myCME.com, which you can then access at any time.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
WINDOWS PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
266-MHz Pentium II; Windows 98 or higher; 64 MB RAM; 800 x 600 screen resolution set for “High Color (16-Bit)”; Macromedia Flash Player 6 or higher.
MACINTOSH® SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
Power Mac g3 at 300 MHz; System 8.5 or higher (excluding Mac OSX); 96 MB RAM; 20 MB minimum hard disk space available; 800 x 600 screen resolution set to “Thousands of Colors”; Macromedia Flash Player 6 or higher.