Gwinnett Daily Post

An Atlanta-area doctor will be leading a discussion of shingles and post-shingles pain for local seniors next week.

Dr. Marvin Tark, a Marietta-based physician board certified in anesthesiology and pain management, will host the seminar at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 24 at the Buford Senior Center. Topics will include who is at risk for shingles and post-shingles pain (formally postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN), how shingles come about and factors that contribute to its development, as well as treatment options.

"(Seniors) all know about shingles, but I don't think they're that well-versed on some of the treatment options that are available when they get it," Tark said, mentioning a vaccine for the virus.

One of Tark's main focuses is on PHN, significant pain that persists for more than three months after the sores and lesions typical of shingles disappear. He estimated that one in five people diagnosed with shingles will experience PHN.

Tark said the only FDA-approved treatment for the symptoms is a patch that contains capsaicin, one of the active chemicals in chili peppers.

"I've seen a lot of my elderly patients who have not been treated adequately for PHN," Tark said, "and I think we've got a new treatment for it and I think it's a novel approach."

For more information visit www.postshinglesnervepainseminar.com or call 1-800-275-2767.

The Buford Senior Center is located at 2755 Sawnee Avenue.