title: [Treatment of herpes zoster].
abstract: A critical study of therapeutic trial reports on herpes zoster is presented. It is noteworthy that authors are frequently unaware of the natural history of herpes zoster; therapeutic trials are not always correctly designed; misinterpretation of the data is not unfrequent. Proof of efficacy is missing for several commonly used drugs. Two groups of drug seem promising: -- Modern antiviral nucleoside analogues : Acyclovir, Vidarabine, Bromovinyl-desoxyuridine are probably effective for severe herpes zoster in immunocompromized patients. -Systemic adrenal steroids are effective as a prevention of post-herpetic neuralgia in elderly patients. The real usefulness of these two treatment procedures, as a whole and for individual patient, remains to be established by well-designed controlled trials. Other treatments should be surrended.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000998:Antiviral Agents
vernacular_title: Le traitement du zona.