Cost-benefit of oral acyclovir in the treatment of herpes zoster.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Oral acyclovir is a costly antiviral agent shown to be effective in the treatment of herpes zoster. Herpes zoster runs a relatively benign course in young, healthy individuals, as compared with elderly and immunologically compromised patients, in whom complications are common. This study attempts to assess the cost-benefit of treatment with oral acyclovir in young healthy adults with herpes zoster.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The records of 42 healthy young adults suffering from herpes zoster and treated with oral acyclovir (800 mg five times daily for 7 days) were compared with those of 40 healthy young adults with herpes zoster seen during the same period but treated without oral acyclovir. The duration of zoster-associated pain and the presence of complications were noted.

RESULTS:

There was no statistically significant difference in the duration of zoster-associated pain between the two groups of patients (P = 0.11). Other complications of herpes zoster were few and similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

At a cost of $250 to $300 for a 7-day course of oral acyclovir, the use of this antiviral agent in healthy young individuals with herpes zoster is not justified, especially in developing countries with limited resources.

• Authors: E P Kubeyinje
• Journal: International journal of dermatology (Int J Dermatol) Vol. 36 Issue 6 Pg. 457-9 (Jun 1997) ISSN: 0011-9059 [Print] England
• PMID: 9248895 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Acyclovir

Topics

• Acyclovir (administration & dosage, economics, therapeutic use)
• Administration, Oral
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, economics, therapeutic use)
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Developing Countries
• Drug Costs
• Female
• Health Resources
• Herpes Zoster (complications, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Immunocompromised Host
• Male
• Neuralgia (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Pain (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Safety
• Saudi Arabia
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome