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Herpes zoster oticus: Treatment with intravenous acyclovir
Author(s) -
Dickins John R. E.,
Smith J. Thomas,
Graham Sharon S.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198807000-00019
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , regimen , facial nerve , dermatology
Herpes zoster oticus generally has a poor prognosis, leaving many patients with permanent facial nerve dysfunction. This preliminary report describes results in seven patients treated for zoster; all were given intravenous acyclovir. Patients were infused with 10 mg/kg every 8 hours over a 7‐day hospitalization period. Five of the seven patients showed some return of facial function at the time of discharge. At follow‐up, 4 patients had achieved a House grade I result, 1 patient a grade II, and 2 patients a grade III. Reasons for the differences in final results are discussed, along with a recommended regimen for treatment.