Clinical Study on Outcome of Treatment for Herpes Zoster

Introduction: Herpes Zoster (HZ) is caused by reactivation of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV). It is characterised by occurrence of grouped vesicles on erythematous base which involves the entire dermatome innervated by a single spinal or cranial sensory ganglion and is associated with radicular pa...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kishan Rasubhai Ninama, Rashmi Samir Mahajan, Atmakalyani Rashmi Shah, Apexa Prakash Jain
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2021-04-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/14791/47661_CE[Ra]_F(Sh)_PF1(SC_AnK)_PFA(SC_KM)_PN(KM).pdf
_version_ 1818443739407843328
author Kishan Rasubhai Ninama
Rashmi Samir Mahajan
Atmakalyani Rashmi Shah
Apexa Prakash Jain
author_facet Kishan Rasubhai Ninama
Rashmi Samir Mahajan
Atmakalyani Rashmi Shah
Apexa Prakash Jain
author_sort Kishan Rasubhai Ninama
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Herpes Zoster (HZ) is caused by reactivation of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV). It is characterised by occurrence of grouped vesicles on erythematous base which involves the entire dermatome innervated by a single spinal or cranial sensory ganglion and is associated with radicular pain. Antivirals (Acyclovir, Famciclovir and Valacyclovir) started within 72 hours of onset of lesions are the agents of choice. Aim: To study the clinical manifestations, co-morbidities, efficacy and safety of Acyclovir, complications and sequelae associated with HZ. Materials and Methods: A three year longitudinal cohort study was conducted in 212 adult patients (>18 years of age) suffering with HZ in the Department of Dermatology, Dhiraj General Hospital, Pipariya, Gujarat, India. In this study 212 patients with HZ were prescribed oral Acyclovir in a dose of 800 mg five times a day for seven days. All patients were analysed in terms of clinical manifestations, pre-existing co-morbidities and incidence of complications. The clinical history and findings were recorded in a prestructured proforma. All patients were subjected to cytological examination (Tzanck smear) and Human Immunodeficiency Viruse (HIV) Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) testing Diagnosis was made primarily on the basis of clinical findings and presence of multinucleated giant cells in Tzanck smear. All the patients were treated with Oral Acyclovir. Cases were followed-up fortnightly for six weeks and evaluated for relief of symptoms, treatment outcome and complications/ sequelae. Results: Two hundred and twelve cases were studied, 142 cases were in the 4th and 5th decades of life, 63 cases had comorbidities like diabetes mellitus in 31, autoimmune diseases like pemphigus vulgaris, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease in 19 and AIDS in eight cases. Five cases had malignancy/lymphomas and were receiving chemotherapy for the same. In the majority, HZ occurred de novo without any co-morbidities. The most common dermatomes involved were cervical and thoracic. Out of 212 cases, oral Acyclovir 800 mg was well tolerated by 74. Most common complication was Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN), seen in 80 cases. Conclusion: The treatment of HZ with Oral Acyclovir 800 mg five times a day for seven days is efficacious for healing of skin lesions and also reduces the chances of PHN if instituted within 72 hours.
first_indexed 2024-12-14T19:04:50Z
format Article
id doaj.art-dbf40afa37a842a291ae225f89fda58d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2249-782X
0973-709X
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-14T19:04:50Z
publishDate 2021-04-01
publisher JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
record_format Article
series Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
spelling doaj.art-dbf40afa37a842a291ae225f89fda58d2022-12-21T22:50:53ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2021-04-01154WC01WC0410.7860/JCDR/2021/47661.14791Clinical Study on Outcome of Treatment for Herpes ZosterKishan Rasubhai Ninama0Rashmi Samir Mahajan1Atmakalyani Rashmi Shah2Apexa Prakash Jain3Associate Professor, Department of Skin and Venereal Disease, Smt. B.K. Shah Medical Institute and Research Center, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.Professor and Head, Department of Skin and Venereal Disease, Smt. B.K. Shah Medical Institute and Research Center, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.Postgraduate Resident, Department of Skin and Venereal Disease, Smt. B.K. Shah Medical Institute and Research Center, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.Postgraduate Resident, Department of Skin and Venereal Disease, Smt. B.K. Shah Medical Institute and Research Center, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.Introduction: Herpes Zoster (HZ) is caused by reactivation of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV). It is characterised by occurrence of grouped vesicles on erythematous base which involves the entire dermatome innervated by a single spinal or cranial sensory ganglion and is associated with radicular pain. Antivirals (Acyclovir, Famciclovir and Valacyclovir) started within 72 hours of onset of lesions are the agents of choice. Aim: To study the clinical manifestations, co-morbidities, efficacy and safety of Acyclovir, complications and sequelae associated with HZ. Materials and Methods: A three year longitudinal cohort study was conducted in 212 adult patients (>18 years of age) suffering with HZ in the Department of Dermatology, Dhiraj General Hospital, Pipariya, Gujarat, India. In this study 212 patients with HZ were prescribed oral Acyclovir in a dose of 800 mg five times a day for seven days. All patients were analysed in terms of clinical manifestations, pre-existing co-morbidities and incidence of complications. The clinical history and findings were recorded in a prestructured proforma. All patients were subjected to cytological examination (Tzanck smear) and Human Immunodeficiency Viruse (HIV) Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) testing Diagnosis was made primarily on the basis of clinical findings and presence of multinucleated giant cells in Tzanck smear. All the patients were treated with Oral Acyclovir. Cases were followed-up fortnightly for six weeks and evaluated for relief of symptoms, treatment outcome and complications/ sequelae. Results: Two hundred and twelve cases were studied, 142 cases were in the 4th and 5th decades of life, 63 cases had comorbidities like diabetes mellitus in 31, autoimmune diseases like pemphigus vulgaris, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease in 19 and AIDS in eight cases. Five cases had malignancy/lymphomas and were receiving chemotherapy for the same. In the majority, HZ occurred de novo without any co-morbidities. The most common dermatomes involved were cervical and thoracic. Out of 212 cases, oral Acyclovir 800 mg was well tolerated by 74. Most common complication was Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN), seen in 80 cases. Conclusion: The treatment of HZ with Oral Acyclovir 800 mg five times a day for seven days is efficacious for healing of skin lesions and also reduces the chances of PHN if instituted within 72 hours.https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/14791/47661_CE[Ra]_F(Sh)_PF1(SC_AnK)_PFA(SC_KM)_PN(KM).pdfacyclovirdermatomepostherpetic neuralgia
spellingShingle Kishan Rasubhai Ninama
Rashmi Samir Mahajan
Atmakalyani Rashmi Shah
Apexa Prakash Jain
Clinical Study on Outcome of Treatment for Herpes Zoster
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
acyclovir
dermatome
postherpetic neuralgia
title Clinical Study on Outcome of Treatment for Herpes Zoster
title_full Clinical Study on Outcome of Treatment for Herpes Zoster
title_fullStr Clinical Study on Outcome of Treatment for Herpes Zoster
title_full_unstemmed Clinical Study on Outcome of Treatment for Herpes Zoster
title_short Clinical Study on Outcome of Treatment for Herpes Zoster
title_sort clinical study on outcome of treatment for herpes zoster
topic acyclovir
dermatome
postherpetic neuralgia
url https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/14791/47661_CE[Ra]_F(Sh)_PF1(SC_AnK)_PFA(SC_KM)_PN(KM).pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT kishanrasubhaininama clinicalstudyonoutcomeoftreatmentforherpeszoster
AT rashmisamirmahajan clinicalstudyonoutcomeoftreatmentforherpeszoster
AT atmakalyanirashmishah clinicalstudyonoutcomeoftreatmentforherpeszoster
AT apexaprakashjain clinicalstudyonoutcomeoftreatmentforherpeszoster