No abstract available.
Drug Therapy* ; Herpes Zoster*

OBJECTIVETo assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for treatment of herpes zoster.

METHODSAccording to the requirement of evidence-based medicine, acupuncture, body acupuncture, electroacupuncture, head acupuncture, three edged needle, plum-blossom needle, fire needle, elongated needle, encircling needling, herpes zoster, etc. were selected as subject words to retrieve the relative medical database at home, and clinically randomized controlled trials were used as enrolled criteria, the treatment group were treated with acupuncture or acupuncture plus other therapies, and the control group with medicine, the cured rate and the time of killing pain for herpes zoster were used as assessment indexes. Altogether 43 papers were enrolled. Among them 10 papers were conducted for Meta-analysis by RevMan 4.2.9.

RESULTSThe total OR was 4.27 with 95% CI [2.90, 6.29] of the clinically cured rate in the 10 studies, and the total OR was -7.64 with 95% CI [-8.12, -7.15] of the time of killing pain in the 4 studies. The therapeutic effect in the treatment group on herpes zoster was superior to that of the western medicine (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture therapy for herpes zoster is effective, but more high-quality studies are required to prove this view point.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Herpes Zoster ; therapy ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical features and the treatment effect of 32 cases of Ramsay Hunt syndrome and explore the relationship between different clinical manifestations and the prognosis. METHOD: Using the integrated therapy including the medication and physiotherapy of ultrashort wave, the relationship between clinical manifestations and recovery time was analyzed. RESULT: Twenty two cases were cured, 10 cases showed improvement of the symptoms, and no patients complained ineffectiveness. The effective rate was 100%. The shortest recovery time was 13 days, and the longest recovery time was 1 year and 7 months. CONCLUSION The key to cure Ramsay Hunt syndrome is comprehensive treatment in time. The different clinical manifestations have something to do with the prognosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Facial Paralysis ; diagnosis ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; diagnosis ; Herpes Zoster Oticus ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo search for a better therapy for herpes zoster.

METHODSSeventy-two cases of herpes zoster were randomly divided into a treatment group of 38 cases treated with surround needling plus surround moxibustion (direct moxibustion at the area of surround needling), and a control group of 34 cases treated with surround needling the margin of the herpes zoster from "the head" to "the tail" of the herpes zoster respectively.

RESULTSThe 38 cases in the treatment group were cured within 3 days with an effective rate of 97.4%, which was better than 85.3% in the control group (P<0.05), with the herpes stopping and scab time shorten, and incidence of residual neuralgia reduced.

CONCLUSIONSurround needling plus surround moxibustion has obvious therapeutic effect on herpes zoster.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; methods

OBJECTIVETo assess the quality of literature of clinical studies on acupuncture in treatment of herpes zoster.

METHODSThe literatures between 1994-2006 were searched by means of electronic retrieval. Type and methodology, general condition, diagnosis of diseases and enrolled and excluded criteria, assessment of sample content, treatment condition, criteria for assessment of therapeutic effects, following-up, etc. in clinical studies are evaluated according to principles and methods of clinical epidemiology and evidence-based medicine.

RESULTSOf the 399 literatures enrolled, only 8 were authentic randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 20 quasi-randomized controlled trials, 66 non-randomized concurrent controlled trials and 277 narrative studies, 70 had clear diagnostic criteria, 16 mentioned enrolled or excluded criteria, 287 had clear criteria for therapeutic effects, 107 reported follow-up, 2 had the description of health economical index, 9 reported adverse reaction.

CONCLUSIONAt present, correct randomization, concealment, blinding and placebo-control, and the RCTs with generally accepted criteria for assessment of diagnosis and therapeutic effects, safety evaluation and rational design of follow-up are needed. It is indicated by preliminary study of the literatures that blood-letting puncture and cupping at Ashi points are main methods for treatment of herpes zoster.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Bibliometrics ; Follow-Up Studies ; Herpes Zoster ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy difference between thumb-tack acupuncture with surrounding needling method plus medication and medication alone for herpes zoster (HZ) of stagnated heat in liver meridian type. METHODS: According to random number table method, 60 patients with HZ of stagnated heat in liver meridian type were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. All the patients were treated with oral valaciclovir hydrochloride dispersible tablets (0.3 g per time, twice per day), mecobalamin tablets (0.5 mg per time, three times a day) and vitamin B (10 mg per time, three times a day) for 15 days. In addition, the patients in the observation group were treated with thumb-tack acupuncture at area 1 cm outside the herpes, with an interval of 3 cm between thumb-tack needles. The thumb-tack acupuncture was given once every 3 days, retained for 48 h, with an interval of 1 day between treatments, and totally 5 treatments were given. The index of herpetic evaluation (stopping time of herpes, scarring time, decrustation time), visual analogue scale (VAS), serum immune-related factors (IgG, IgM, IgA) and serum inflammatory factors (IL-4, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-β1) were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the stopping time of herpes, scarring time, decrustation time in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group (all <0.05). Compared before treatment, the VAS score in the two groups were reduced after treatment (both <0.05), and no significant difference was observed between the two groups (>0.05), but the difference before and after treatment in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (<0.05). Compared before treatment, the levels of serum immune-related factors IgG, IgM, IgA were increased in the two groups after treatment (all <0.05), and the levels in the observation group after treatment were higher than those in the control group (all <0.05). Compared before treatment, the levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-4, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-β1 were reduced in the two groups after treatment (all <0.05), and the levels in the observation group after treatment were lower than those in the control group (all <0.05). CONCLUSION The thumb-tack acupuncture with surrounding needling method plus medication have the advantages of rapid onset and analgesic effect for HZ of stagnated heat in liver meridian type, which could also improve serum immune-related factors and reduce inflammatory reaction.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Herpes Zoster ; therapy ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Liver ; Meridians ; Thumb ; Treatment Outcome

The clinical experience of He's three-clear method by stages for herpes zoster on the head and face is summarized. The strong-clear method (blood-letting therapy) combined with mild-clear method (acupuncture with filiform needle) are applied for the acute pain period and subacute pain period of herpes zoster on the head and face. For acute pain period, the bleeding volume should be large (more than 10 mL), and treatment is given once every other day; for the subacute pain period, the bleeding volume should be 5-10 mL, and treatment is given 2-3 times a week. In the chronic pain period, the fire needle of the warm-clear method combined with mild-clear method (acupuncture with filiform needle) are applied for the syndrome of qi-stagnation and blood-stasis, while the warm acupuncture of the warm-clear method combined with mild-clear method (acupuncture with filiform needle) ware applied for the syndrome of qi-deficiency yin-injury blood-stasis.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Acute Pain ; Bloodletting ; Herpes Zoster/therapy* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Needles

Ramsay Hunt syndrome associated with the Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is characterized by vesicles on the pinna, otalgia, facial nerve palsy and sensorineural hearing loss. Although significant complications from VZV infection are increasing, thrombosis associated with VZV infection is one of the rare complications in adults. The VZV itself could cause endothelial damage in the various organs. Subsequently, the thrombosis might be complicated. A previously healthy 84 year-old female patient was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. On the 7th day of antiviral treatment, she complained of sudden breathlessness. She was hypoxemic with an elevated alveolar-arterial oxygen difference and needed to be supported by mechanical ventilation. Massive pulmonary thrombosis was documented by computerized tomography and she successfully underwent thrombolytic therapy. We report a case of massive pulmonary thromboembolism associated with VZV infection, treated with thrombolytic therapy.
Adult ; Earache ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Herpes Zoster ; Herpes Zoster Oticus ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Paralysis ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Respiration, Artificial ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis

Herpes zoster is an acute, self-limited disease of infectious origin. It is characterized by grouped vesicular lesions on an erythematous base distributed over several dermatomes as well as single. In some cases the patients can be found to have an identifiable risk factor such as old age, malignancy, irradiation, chemotherapy, immunosuppresive therapy and trauma. The majority of cases are self-limited and resolved completely. However it may have serious complication. We reviewed 369 cases of herpes zoster to determine the distribution of lesions, incidence of postherpetic neuralgia, associated disorders, and the age. 134 cases (36.1%) of 369 cases with herpes zoster were associated with chronic disorders. The complications of herpes zoster were developed in 71 cases (19.2%) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) was the most commom complication. The frequency and severity of postherpetic neuralgia were proportional to age. There was a predilection of the involvement in thoracic dermatomes, lumbar dermatomes and ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve in decreasing order of frequency. The incidence and duration of postherpetic neuralgia are significantly related to age.
Drug Therapy ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Risk Factors ; Trigeminal Nerve

Sarcoidosis is a systemic noncaseating granulomatous disorder of unknown origin that can involve any organ, including the skin. It has occasionally occurred on trauma sites, such as on the sites of herpes zoster infections and venepuncture, operations, cosmetic tattoos, and previous laser surgeries. About 25% of systemic-sarcoidosis patients have skin lesions, but cutaneous sarcoidosis can occur without a systemic disease, as in the patient whose case is described herein: a 40-year-old female who presented an erythematous plaque on the left nasolabial fold area, to which acupuncture was applied at an oriental clinic about 3 months earlier, as treatment for left facial nerve palsy.
Acupuncture ; Adult ; Cosmetics ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Nasolabial Fold ; Paralysis ; Sarcoidosis ; Skin