Everyone Healthy Library
Herpes Zoster
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Condition overview
Attributes
Commonalityis common
Incidenceis approximately 1 in 500 people
Linked signs and symptoms
16Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
- Eye Displaced Downward and Outward
- Eye: Inflammation of Conjunctiva (Conjunctivitis)
- Fever (Raised Body Temperature)
- Headache (Cephalgia)
- Mind: Malaise
- Pain Nerve
- Skin Blisters
- Skin Itching
- Skin Itchy Swollen Red Bumps (Hives or Urticaria)
- Skin Lesions
- Skin Painful Burning
- Skin Rash
- Skin Sensitivity Increased
- Skin Tingling Or Numbness (Paresthesias)
- Skin Vesicles (Small, Fluid-Filled Elevations)
- Skin: Sore Oozing Or A Crusting Spot
Linked drugs / medications
2Medication information is educational only. A doctor or pharmacist should advise whether any medicine is appropriate.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
5Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Alternative medicine
1Vitamins and minerals
1Vitamins
1Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
1These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
Biological and test markers
1This visual map uses existing EH database links to show biological agents and lab markers reported as increased, decreased, or associated with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
1Often decreased
0No markers in this group.
Other associated markers
0No markers in this group.
Introduction / full article
Herpes Zoster
Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:
Megavitamin Therapy (Multivitamin, Vitamin Supplements) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]:
Please Note that while supplements are effective in correcting deficiencies in the body, their long-term usage is not helpful in preventing diseases like cancer and heart disease. To prevent these illnesses one should eat the natural foods which these vitamins and minerals come from. Replacing natural sources with artificial supplements actually increases the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Supplements should be taken only as a balanced multivitamin supplement that contains no more than 100% of the recommended daily allowance. It would be most helpful in people with restricted food intakes, pregnant women and women of childbearing age.
Recommendation: Weakly against (There is no evidence that Megavitamin therapy can prevent or treat Herpes Zoster. In fact, long term therapy can lead to increased risk for other diseases)
Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence
Cannabis (Marijuana) [8, 9]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Studies show that cannabis may be able to help relieve pain from herpes zoster. More research is needed)
Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence
Red Pepper (Capsaicin) [10, 11]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Studies show that red pepper may be able to help relieve pain from herpes zoster. More research is needed)
Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Summary References
Treatments:
1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009
2. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/orthomolecular-medicine
3. http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/163/2/192.pdf
4. http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/ortho.html
5. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/72/5/707
6. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/no-index/about-ama/13638.shtml
7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17327526
8. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/09/040923092627.htm
9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19789075
10. http://stvhs.adam.com/content.aspx?productId=107&pid=33&gid=000230
11. https://sites.google.com/site/elaioppo/f