A Randomized Trial of Acyclovir for 7 Days or 21 Days with and without Prednisolone for Treatment of Acute Herpes Zoster

摘要: Background Acyclovir given for 7 to 10 days is of proved benefit in acute herpes zoster, but studies its effectiveness preventing postherpetic neuralgia have had conflicting results. The role corticosteroids the treatment zoster also controversial. Methods We conducted a double-blind, controlled trial patients with determine whether either 21 acyclovir therapy or addition prednisolone offered any improvement over therapy. Patients rash less than 72 hours' duration were assigned receive (800 mg orally, five times daily) placebo, placebo. Prednisolone was initiated at dose 40 per day and tapered three-week period. assessed frequently through 28 then monthly month 6 assess neuralgia. Results Of 400 recruited, 349 completed study. ...