Thermal Images in the Assessment of Post-Herpetic Neuralgia: A Case Study

Abstract

Post-herpetic neuralgia is due to an acute painful viral infection resulting from endogenous activation of the varicella virus. The thermal Image (or thermography) is a tool applicable to the diagnosis and clinical monitoring of neuropathic diseases. In this sense, the aim of this study was to present a case of post-herpetic neuralgia assessed and with its therapeutic approach monitored by thermal images. A Female patient, 11 years old, EVA 9 for 1 year and 4 months on the right flank, paravertebral and intercostal region between the 9th and 11th ribs, without previous trauma, without a closed nosological diagnosis, was assessed with thermal images in March (before intervention) and October (after intervention) 2019, with the measurement of the maximum and minimum temperatures of the demarcated areas. Results shoes that in March 2019 (before intervention), it was found asymmetrical intercostal hot spot between 9 th -11 th ribs with the maximum thermal difference (ΔT) of 0.9°C, in comparison to the contralateral flank.In the postero anterior image, a hyper-radiant signal was found with a thermal difference (ΔT) of 0.7°C, compared to the contralateral flank. Seven months after the start of treatment (October 2019), the right intercostal region showed a maximum thermal difference (ΔT) of 0.4°C, compared to the contra lateral flank. In the dorsal region, there was a thermal difference (ΔT) of 0.2°C. It can be concluded that thermal images are useful to the formation of the diagnostic hypothesis and assessment of the clinical evolution of the patient with neuropathic pain.