The aims of treatment are to limit the severity and duration of pain, shorten the duration of a<unk>  episode, and reduce complications. Symptomatic treatment is often needed for the complication of postherpetic neuralgia. However, a study on untreated<unk>  shows that, once the rash has cleared, postherpetic neuralgia is very rare in people under 50 and wears off in time; in older people, the pain wore off more slowly, but even in people over 70, 85% were free from pain a year after their<unk>  outbreak. Analgesics People with mild to moderate pain can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications. Topical lotions containing calamine can be used on the rash or blisters and may be soothing. Occasionally, severe pain may require an opioid medication, such as morphine. Once the lesions have crusted over, capsaicin cream (Zostrix) can be used. Topical lidocaine and nerve blocks may also reduce pain. Administering gabapentin along with antivirals may offer relief of postherpetic neuralgia. Antivirals Antiviral drugs may reduce the severity and duration of<unk> ; however, they do not prevent postherpetic neuralgia. Of these drugs, aciclovir has been the standard treatment, but the newer drugs valaciclovir and famciclovir demonstrate similar or superior efficacy and good safety and tolerability. The drugs are used both for prevention (for example in people with HIV/AIDS) and as therapy during the acute phase. Complications in immunocompromised individuals with<unk>  may be reduced with intravenous aciclovir. In people who are at a high risk for repeated attacks of<unk> , five daily oral doses of aciclovir are usually effective. Steroids Corticosteroids do not appear to decrease the risk of long-term pain. Side effects however appear to be minimal. Their use in Ramsay Hunt syndrome had not been properly studied as of 2008. Zoster ophthalmicus Zoster ophthalmicus Treatment for zoster ophthalmicus is similar to standard treatment for<unk>  at other sites. A trial comparing acyclovir with its prodrug, valacyclovir, demonstrated similar efficacies in treating this form of the disease. The significant advantage of valacyclovir over acyclovir is its dosing of only three times/day (compared with acyclovir's five times/day dosing), which could make it more convenient for people and improve adherence with therapy.
Shingles
Insect bites and stings
Sealpox
Angina
Farmyard pox
Herpes simplex
Streptococcal intertrigo
Sciatica