Effect of corticosteroid therapy in acute pain edema caused by Herpes Zoster

Purpose: To evaluate the curative effect of corticosteroids in the treatment of acute pain, local edema, and skin lesions caused by herpes zoster, and to develop some pertinent therapeutic guidelines.
Methods: A total of 48 cases of patients diagnosed with herpes zoster from 2010 to 2011 in the dermatology clinic of Shan Dong Traffic Hospital were selected and all received the same therapy of antiviral, pain-relieving and nerve nutrition. They were divided into a corticosteroid application group, with 24 patients treated with corticosteroids, and a control group of 24 patients without corticosteroids. Local swelling subsided in the corticosteroid group. The differences observed in pain relief and days needed for blisters to dry and scab between the two patient groups were analyzed to determine significance and, thus, assess the curative effect of corticosteroids in treatment of herpes zoster.
Results: Patients in the glucocorticosteroid application group relieved pain faster than patients in the control group (2.38 ± 1.41 days vs 5.50 ± 3.19 days), and the difference was significant (p < 0.05). Skin lesions of patients in the glucocorticosteroid application group healed quicker than that of patients in control group (2.83 ± 0.87 days vs 3.54 ± 1.02 days), and the difference was remarkable (p < 0.05). Local swelling of patients in the glucocorticosteroid application group recovered rapidly after treatment. .
Conclusion: Treatment of herpes zoster with appropriate corticosteroid isodose application can effectively relieve acute pain and local swelling, and speed up scabbing and healing of skin lesions.

Keywords
Herpes zoster; Corticosteroids; Local edema; Scab; Skin lesions; Acute pain; Blisters; Therapeutic guidelines