Treatment of 60 cases of senile herpes zoster by encircled acupuncture plus valaciclovir

Objective To observe the clinical therapeutic effect and safety of local encircled acupuncture plus valaciclovir in treating senile herpes zoster. Methods Sixty senile patients with herpes zoster were divided into two groups. In acupuncture and medicine group, the patients were treated by encircled acupuncture plus valaciclovir. The needle was inserted about 0.8 cun away from herpes and to form an angle of 15° with the skin around the skin lesion. During treatment, valaciclovir was taken orally 300 mg every time, twice every day for successive 10 days. In western medicine group, valaciclovir was taken orally 300 mg every time, twice every day for successive 10 days. Results The time of stopping herpes, relieving pain and scabbing in acupuncture and medicine group was significantly lower than that in western group. Conclusion Local encircled acupuncture plus valaciclovir in treating senile herpes zoster got effects quickly and could effectively shorten the course of disease and reduce the incidence rate of residual neuralgia.