Humans ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Myelitis, Transverse/complications* ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome/complications* ; Herpes Zoster/complications* ; Varicella Zoster Virus Infection/complications*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of intradermal injection of methylene blue for treatment of moderate to severe acute thoracic herpes zoster and prevention of postherpetica neuralgia in elderly patients.

METHODSSixty-four elderly patients with herpes zoster were randomized to receive a 10-day course of intradermal injection of methylene blue and lidocaine plus oral valaciclovir (group A, 32 cases) and intradermal injection of lidocaine plus oral valaciclovir (group B).Herpes evaluation index, pain rating index, incidence of postherpetic neuralgia, and comprehensive therapeutic effect were compared between the two groups at 11, 30 and 60 days after the treatment.

RESULTSThe baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with that in group B, the time for no new blister formation, blister incrustation and decrustation, and pain relief was significantly shortened in group A (P<0.05) with also obviously lower pain intensity after the treatment. The incidence of postherpetic neuralgia was significantly lower in group A than in group B at 30 days (P<0.05), but not at 60 and 90 days after the treatment. The total clinical response rate was 93.8% in group A, much higher than that in group B (62.5%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIntradermal injection of methylene blue can effectively shorten the disease course, reduce the pain intensity and prevent the development of postherpetic neuralgia in elderly patients with herpes zoster.

Acyclovir ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Aged ; Herpes Zoster ; complications ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Intradermal ; Lidocaine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Methylene Blue ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; therapy ; Pain Measurement ; Valine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Dysuria ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Herpes Zoster ; complications ; virology ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Perineum ; virology

Acupuncture Therapy ; Herpes Zoster ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motor Neuron Disease ; etiology ; therapy ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; etiology ; therapy

Acyclovir ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Brain Stem ; pathology ; virology ; Encephalitis ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Herpes Zoster ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Herpes Zoster Oticus ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged

The clinical data of 3 cases of Ramsay-Hunt syndrome concurrent with ipsilateral vocal cord paralysis were retrospectively analyzed, and the relevant literatures were also reviewed. Ramsay-Hunt syndrome is a kind of disease characterized by heavy ear pain, herpes zoster oticus and inner ear neurologic symptoms, which can also affect the vocal cords and give rise to vocal cords paralysis. Ramsay-Hunt syndrome can cause multiple in flammation of cranial nerves. The viral infection can also involve the 3rd and 10th cranial nerves. It mainly damage the facial nerve, followed by the involvement of vestibulocochlear nerve. The vagus nerve damage is rare, so the relevant clinical reports are less. It is important to take the objective data as well as subjective symptoms of the patients into consideration to make a definite diagnosis, so that we can treat it as soon as possible to achieve better curative effect.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Herpes Zoster Oticus ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; complications

A 55-year-old woman presented with diplopia following painful skin eruptions on the right upper extremity. On presentation, she was found to have 35 prism diopters of esotropia and an abduction limitation in the left eye. Two weeks later, she developed blepharoptosis and anisocoria with a smaller pupil in the right eye, which increased in the darkness. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed pleocytosis and a positive result for immunoglobulin G antibody to varicella zoster virus. She was diagnosed to have zoster meningitis with Horner's syndrome and contralateral abducens nerve palsy. After intravenous antiviral and steroid treatments, the vesicular eruptions and abducens nerve palsy improved. Horner's syndrome and diplopia resolved after six months. Here we present the first report of Horner's syndrome and contralateral abducens nerve palsy associated with zoster meningitis.
Abducens Nerve Diseases/diagnosis/*etiology ; Antibodies, Viral/*analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electromyography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Herpes Zoster/*complications/diagnosis/virology ; Herpesvirus 3, Human/*immunology ; Horner Syndrome/diagnosis/*etiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningitis/*complications/diagnosis/virology ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bloodletting ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; complications ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; etiology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of thread-moxa in Zhuang folk medicine (TM) combined with acupuncture and external application drugs for AIDS patients with herpes zoster (AHZ).

METHODSA randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted in 60 patients with AHZ. They were randomly assigned to the treatment group (treated with TM combined with acupuncture and Jingwanhong Scald Ointment) and the control group (treated with Famciclovir Tablet, nimesulide dispersible tablet, vitamin B1, ribavirin ointment). The treatment course was 14 days for both groups.The clinical efficacy, significant efficiency visual analog scale score (VAS), sleep quality score (QS), the postherpetic neuralgia rate in 1 year after treatment were observed.

RESULTSThe markedly effective rate was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (86.7% vs. 53.3%, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the total effective rate between the two groups (96.7% vs. 80.0%, P > 0.05). The post-treatment VAS, QS, the time for pain disappearance, skin repair, crusting, and 1-year postherpetic neuralgia incidence rate were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTM combined with acupuncture and Jingwanhong Scald Ointment was effective for treating AHZ patients. It relieved pain quickly, shortened their course of disease, and improved their quality of sleep.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; complications ; therapy ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Management ; Phytotherapy ; Sleep ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy may influence the skin in various ways from physiologic changes to pathologic dermatoses. OBJECTIVE: To analyze and quantify the distribution and clinical features of dermatoses in pregnant patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 634 pregnant patients who visited the department of dermatology between May, 2006 and November, 2012. The patients' epidemiologic status and clinical characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 30.6 and the mean gestational age was 22.3 weeks. They were classified into 3 groups: general dermatoses, pregnancy-specific dermatoses, and physiologic skin change. General dermatoses were observed in 434 patients (68.5%) and infectious disease accounted for 50.0% of them. The most frequent infectious disease was viral infection with herpes zoster (29.5%) and varicella (16.1%). Pregnancy-specific dermatoses were recognized in 177 patients (28.0%). Among them, 96 (54.2%) were diagnosed as atopic eruption of pregnancy and 66 (37.3%) were pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. Primigravida, late onset and abdominal involvement were more frequent in patients with pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. The prognosis of patients with pregnancy specific dermatoses was good without major fetal problems. Pyogenic granuloma was recorded as the most common physiologic changes encountered. We performed examinations and procedures in only 36.3% of pregnant patients. CONCLUSION: We analyzed the distribution and clinical characteristics observed in pregnant patients with dermatological problems. Dermatologists should be aware of the differences to improve the quality of patient care.
Chickenpox ; Communicable Diseases ; Dermatology ; Gestational Age ; Granuloma, Pyogenic ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Patient Care ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Prognosis ; Pruritus ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Skin Diseases