title: Relationship between prior knowledge about herpes zoster and the period from onset of the eruption to consultation in patients with herpes zoster.
abstract: Herpes zoster (HZ) is a common internal infection caused by latent varicella zoster virus. Emergence of antiviral chemotherapy has changed the treatment of HZ dramatically, but the effects of such therapy are documented only in patients who started treatment within 72 h of HZ onset of the eruption. There have been few studies addressing the question of factors that determine early attendance of patients at a clinic. We questioned 256 patients with acute HZ about: (i) date from onset of the eruption to first clinic visit; and (ii) their prior knowledge of HZ. We found a tendency that patients who already knew about HZ had consulted dermatology clinics earlier (P < 0.05). People most commonly obtained information about the disease from friends and family members who had previously had HZ, but not from the Internet or other mass media. Our results indicate that patient education is important for early attendance at dermatology clinics, which in turn, should result in the improved outcome of antiviral chemotherapy and prevention of postherpetic neuralgia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Fukuoka University Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyachi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Fukuoka University Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan. dermatologist@mac.com.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imafuku
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005076:Exanthema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: herpes zoster; knowledge about herpes zoster; patient's education; valacyclovir; varicella zoster virus