acyclovir and Facial-Pain

Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Erythema; Facial Dermatoses; Facial Pain; Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus; Humans; Immunocompetence; Intracranial Hemorrhages; Male; Middle Aged; Radiography; Treatment Outcome

Ophthalmological and cervical involvement of herpes zoster virus ranks second and third, respectively, in terms of localization frequency. Involvement of the cranial nerves is a particular sign of complications, notably ocular complications, possibly compromising the visual or facial prognosis through involvement of the VIIth nerve, which is responsible for facial paralysis. These types of involvement should be rapidly diagnosed and treated so as to limit these complications. The pain associated with herpes zoster remains frequent and difficult to treat, even if today the criteria for defining postzoster pain is increasingly refined. Antalgic and antiviral treatment should be initiated early, from the very first signs, to attempt to reduce the incidence of this postzoster pain. The risk factors, associated with the development of postzoster pain are age over 50 years, the severity of the skin rash and the intensity of the acute pain, and the existence of a prodromic pain phase before onset. The European Federation of Neurological Societies has recently published guidelines on the pharmacological treatments for postzoster pain. Nerve block treatments remain at a limited evidence level. Patients with postzoster pain should be managed by teams specializing in pain management as soon as conventional treatments fail.

Topics: Acyclovir; Administration, Cutaneous; Analgesics; Antiviral Agents; Cranial Nerves; Facial Pain; Herpes Zoster; Herpes Zoster Vaccine; Humans; Neck Pain

Topics: Acyclovir; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Baclofen; Calcium Channel Blockers; Carbamazepine; Cervical Vertebrae; Cluster Headache; Drug Therapy, Combination; Ergotamine; Eye Diseases; Facial Pain; Female; Giant Cell Arteritis; Headache; Humans; Lithium; Male; Methysergide; Middle Aged; Osteoarthritis; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Psychotherapy; Psychotropic Drugs; Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome; Trigeminal Neuralgia; Vidarabine

Mostly, herpes zoster affects adults and therefore childhood presentation can represent a diagnostic challenge. Childhood herpes zoster, when it occurs, can also be associated with peripheral nerve complications, as illustrated by this case. A 3-year-old child who had herpes zoster developed a nasolabial scar resulting in a shallow non-healing ulcer from being repeatedly picked. Healing was only achieved after nocturnal sedation, with chloral hydrate.

Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Child, Preschool; Chloral Hydrate; Face; Facial Pain; Female; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Ulcer

Topics: Acyclovir; Adult; Antiviral Agents; Facial Pain; Facial Paralysis; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Male

A 61-year-old man presented with acute facial pain and subsequently developed the rash of herpes zoster in a distal dermatome. Treatment with acyclovir was commenced before development of the rash. The atypical presentation and the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

Topics: Acyclovir; Facial Pain; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Male; Middle Aged

A case of facial palsy associated with herpes zoster is presented. A good response was obtained using treatment with acyclovir and prednisone.

Topics: Acyclovir; Cranial Nerve Diseases; Facial Pain; Facial Paralysis; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Male; Mandibular Nerve; Middle Aged; Prednisone