This chapter deals with Occupational Health and how to protect healthcare workers from acquiring infections (e.g. HAV, HBV, HIV, HCV, VZV, influenza, Covid-19, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, TB, diphtheria, meningococcal infection and tetanus) while at work. It describes how healthcare workers can be protected by providing pre-exposure vaccinations and post-exposure treatments, as well as discussing responses to outbreaks and routes of infection.

Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common, painful reaction following herpes zoster (HZ) infection. There have been one million cases of HZ per year, with 20% resulting in PHN, which is the prevalent condition that significantly reduces the quality of life in affected individuals. There is increased nociception in dermatomal region following typical HZ rash. The strongest risk factor is increasing age, and the FDA recommends all people age >50 to get vaccinated as a prevention. First-line treatments include topical capsaicin, lidocaine, and pharmacological management with TCAs and Calcium channel a2d ligands. Myriad of other treatment options are available, many with conflicting evidence.

Significant advances in the development of antiviral medications has come from efforts towardsthe control of human immunodeficiencyvirus (HIV), with nucleoside analogs and protease inhibitors leading the way. Similar are advances in vaccine development and understanding the immune system, including immune senescence with age. Antibodies will be used to directly treat illnesses and also to deliver medications including oligonucleotides to abnormal cells. Similarly, viruses have been used to deliver genes to human cells, including abnormal neurons to treat hitherto untreatable illnesses.

Development of methods to measure T lymphocyte functions will enhance understanding of human viral infections and autoimmune illnesses – both of which vary with age. Included in this will be the role of epigenetics on immune functions.

Understanding of latent virus infections of the nervous system will develop including the role of viral genes and also neuronal genes. Related will be understanding if neuronal damage and the development of the post-polio syndrome.