What is a recognized effect of sympathetic blockade during acute herpes zoster?

The recognized effect of sympathetic blockade during acute herpes zoster is that it can help reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia. Postherpetic neuralgia is a common complication following an outbreak of herpes zoster (shingles), resulting from damage to the nerves caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

Sympathetic blockade involves the interruption of sympathetic nerve pathways, which can alleviate pain and prevent the transition to chronic pain conditions like postherpetic neuralgia. By managing acute pain effectively during the initial shingles outbreak, the risk of developing these long-term pain issues can be minimized.

The other options do not align with the established effects of sympathetic blockade in this context. For example, increasing analgesic requirements would imply a failure to control pain effectively, and increasing corticosteroid therapy needs doesn't directly correlate with the goals of sympathetic blockade. Similarly, treating long-term postherpetic neuralgia is beyond the immediate context of sympathetic blockade, which focuses on acute management. Thus, reducing the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia is clearly the correct and recognized outcome of this intervention.