The treatment of herpes zoster with antiviral drugs is made orally or intravenously, but not always necessary to treat it, because it resolves spontaneously in about 7 days.
Treatment is indicated mainly in immunosuppressed patients, the risk of spreading the virus to other organs. These patients required the use of intravenous treatment. It is also recommended treatment with oral antiviral drugs in patients over 50 years, to reduce the likelihood of developing postherpetic neuralgia (brivudine, acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir).
It is important to note that the treatment is effective if started within 72 hours of onset of vesicles and to be avoided superinfection of the lesions by the use of topical antiseptics.
Postherpetic neuralgia, if present, can be treated with analgesics and, if no improvement can be used other antiepileptic drugs such as antidepressants.
