Browsing by Subject "herpes zoster"
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Item Do corticosteroids improve healing time and prevent postherpetic neuralgia in patients with acute Herpes Zoster infection?(2008-12-02) Stahler, PaulThe role of corticosteroids in acute herpes zoster infection remains unclear. Previous studies have suggested the use of prednisone and acyclovir leads to a decreased reduction in acute pain and development of postherpetic neuralgia. A recent review of the literature was performed using PubMed limiting the results to randomized control trials conducted in healthy adult patients. After reviewing three studies it was concluded that prednisone when combined with acyclovir does not reliably decrease the risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia but may decrease the time to cessation of pain and analgesic therapy. Additionally, the use of systemic corticosteroids may lead to unintended patient harm by increasing the likelihood of opportunistic infections. Based on these findings, there is insufficient evidence to support or reject the use of corticosteroids in acute herpes zoster infectionItem Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine: Information for Patients(2010-07-29) Rank, KevinThe Herpes Zoster Vaccine is an effective and safe tool used to lessen the chance of getting herpes zoster (shingles) and a complication of shingles called “post-herpetic neuralgia” in adults over 60 years of age. It also proves to be a good tool at decreasing the harshness and length of illness in the event a vaccinated individual does get shingles.