# Management of Herpes Zoster Infection Using a Combination of Allopathic and Herbal Medication: A Case Report

## TL;DR

This case report describes successful treatment of shingles using a combination of conventional and herbal medicine.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in demonstrating effective management of herpes zoster through combined allopathic and ayurvedic treatment.

## Key findings

- The patient showed significant improvement with combined allopathic and herbal treatment.
- Herbal medication provided a positive response with fewer side effects compared to steroids.
- The treatment approach suggests potential for safer management of herpes zoster symptoms.

## Abstract

Herpes zoster (HZ) also known as shingles is the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) that causes chickenpox. It usually occurs in adults after remaining dormant in the dorsal root ganglia or ganglia of the cranial nerves for several years. It typically manifests as vesicle crops in a dermatomal or "zosteriform" pattern, which shows vesicle, ulcer, and scab distribution that is unilateral, clustered, and linear in a dermatome that is supplied by a single nerve. Patients usually experience prodromal symptoms of deep, severe aching or burning pain. Medicinal treatment frequently includes antiviral drugs to decrease the severity of the lesion and steroidal drugs to reduce symptoms of inflammation. It is also a known fact that steroid has several adverse effects on patients due to which therapeutic drugs with lesser side effects may be given to patients such as herbal medications. This case presentation reports a patient with HZ viral infection who was successfully treated with a meticulous combination of conventional allopathic drugs with ayurvedic medication with a significant positive response to the medication.