The DOI matches its Crossref record; 251 of the 253 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Recommendations for the Management of Herpes Zoster
Abstract
The objective of this article is to provide evidence-based recommendations for the management of patients with herpes zoster (HZ) that take into account clinical efficacy, adverse effects, impact on quality of life, and costs of treatment. Systematic literature reviews, published randomized clinical trials, existing guidelines, and the authors' clinical and research experience relevant to the management of patients with HZ were reviewed at a consensus meeting. The results of controlled trials and the clinical experience of the authors support the use of acyclovir, brivudin (where available), famciclovir, and valacyclovir as first-line antiviral therapy for the treatment of patients with HZ. Specific recommendations for the use of these medications are provided. In addition, suggestions are made for treatments that, when used in combination with antiviral therapy, may further reduce pain and other complications of HZ.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The cited source doesn’t support the claim as written.
In the citing paper
“This situation would be the only indication for modifying antiviral therapy (intravenous instead of oral) for VZV infection (31).”
From Utilization of a Meningitis/Encephalitis PCR panel at the University Hospital Basel – a retrospective study to develop a diagnostic decision rule (2024) · cites this paper as [31]
Checked by a reasoning model — may be wrong.
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“It was shown that shingles without neurological involvement may cause pleocytosis as well as VZV-DNA detection in CSF (29–31).”
From Utilization of a Meningitis/Encephalitis PCR panel at the University Hospital Basel – a retrospective study to develop a diagnostic decision rule (2024) · cites this paper as [31]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Fried, L. P., Ferrucci, L., Darer, J., Williamson, J. D., & Anderson, G. (2004) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences · doi:10.1093/gerona/59.3.m255 · Cited by 4,032
A Vaccine to Prevent Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia in Older Adults
Oxman, M. N., Levin, M. J., Johnson, G. R., Schmader, K. E., Straus, S. E., Gelb, L. D., Arbeit, R. D., Simberkoff, M. S., Gershon, A. A., Davis, L. E., et al. (2005) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa051016 · Cited by 2,412
Self-citationGabapentin for the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia A Randomized Controlled Trial
Rowbotham, M. C. (1998) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.280.21.1837 · Cited by 1,418
The Nature of Herpes Zoster: A Long-Term Study and a New Hypothesis
Hope-Simpson, R. E. (1965) · Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine · doi:10.1177/003591576505800106 · Cited by 1,389
Algorithm for neuropathic pain treatment: An evidence based proposal
Finnerup, N. B., Otto, M., McQuay, H. J., Jensen, T. S., & Sindrup, S. H. (2005) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2005.08.013 · Cited by 1,337
Dworkin, R. H., Bačkonja, M., Rowbotham, M. C., Allen, R. R., Argoff, C., Bennett, G. J., Bushnell, M. C., Farrar, J. T., Galer, B. S., Haythornthwaite, J. A., et al. (2003) · Archives of Neurology · doi:10.1001/archneur.60.11.1524 · Cited by 1,213
Pain: Moving from Symptom Control toward Mechanism-Specific Pharmacologic Management
Woolf, C. (2004) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-140-8-200404200-00010 · Cited by 1,134
Morphine, Gabapentin, or Their Combination for Neuropathic Pain
Gilron, I., Bailey, J. M., Tu, D., Holden, R. R., Weaver, D. F., & Houlden, R. L. (2005) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa042580 · Cited by 1,080
Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain
Ballantyne, J. C., & Mao, J. (2003) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmra025411 · Cited by 960
Best evidence synthesis: An intelligent alternative to meta-analysis
Slavin, R. E. (1995) · Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/0895-4356(94)00097-a · Cited by 951
Research works printed but not linked: 10
- Rowbotham, 2001, Spectrum of pain mechanisms contributing to PHN, 183
- Johnson, 2002, Improving the management of varicella, herpes zoster and zoster-associated pain. Recommendations from the IHMF Management Strategies Workshop
- Dworkin, 2005, Strategies for the prevention of neuropathic pain, 39
- Brentjens, Reduction of postherpetic neuralgia in herpes zoster: a study of the effects of gabapentin with valacyclovir during acute zoster outbreaks
- Rowbotham, 2004, Pregabalin significantly reduces neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia by day 3 of treatment, 48
- Brentjens, A double-blind randomized study of the use of 2 grams vs. 1 gram valacyclovir TID for 7 days in the treatment of acute herpes zoster in immunocompromised individuals
- Sullivan, Famciclovir in the management of acute herpes zoster in HIV+ patients
- Ragozzino, 1982, Population-based study of herpes zoster and its sequelae, Medicine, 61, 310, 10.1097/00005792-198209000-00003 · DOI
- Oxman, Efficacy of zoster vaccine according to dermatome region
- Pavan-Langston, 2005, Viral disease of the ocular anterior segment: basic science and clinical disease, 297
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 801–863 of 863
Dietrich-Ntoukas, T., Mergler, S., & Pleyer, U. (2024) · Springer Reference Medizin · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-65929-8_126-1
Luan, S., Wang, Y., Li, Q., Zheng, X., & Shang, N. (2024) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3873081/v1
Kim, D. E., Kim, D. W., Kim, H. J., Rhee, H., Song, S. H., & Seong, E. Y. (2024) · Kosin Medical Journal · doi:10.7180/kmj.23.154
Wang, F., Li, Y., Zhang, Z., Lu, Q., Shi, C., Yu, X., Hu, F., Li, M., Guo, J., & Wang, H. (2024) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-4194972/v1
A mismanaged case of post herpetic nasal stenosis: a salvage story
Shetti, P. S., Manishaa, E. V., & Rai, A. (2024) · International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery · doi:10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20240703
Antivirals in Herpes Zoster and AKI
Kwong, Y. D., & Hsu, R. K. (2024) · Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology · doi:10.2215/cjn.0000000000000480
HERPES ZOSTER OPHTALMICUS IN AN IMMUNOCOMPETENT PATIENT
Melinte, V., Tudor, A. D., & Radu, A. M. (2023) · Romanian Archives of Microbiology and Immunology · doi:10.54044/rami.2023.01.09
Soreness and “flaking off” in right maxillary mucosa after eating chicken-fried steak
Cheng, Y. L., & Lee, C.-M. (2024) · The Journal of the American Dental Association · doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2024.05.009
TABACOF, L. R., Howard, R., Bower, J. D., Breyman, E., Dewil, S., Tosto-Mancuso, J., Hanbury, R., Carmouche, B., Robberson, M., Fry, A., et al. (2024) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2024.08.12.24311569
Chamera-Cyrek, K., Dyląg, L., Sikora, O., Żaczek, B., Cwalina, O., Molga, M., Mrugała, Z., Baran, J. M., Rowiński, D., Podczerwińska, A., et al. (2024) · OphthaTherapy Therapies in Ophthalmology · doi:10.24292/01.ot.150724.1
Nonmalignant Dermatologic Disorders in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Isaacs, K. L., & Sayed, C. J. (2024) · The American Journal of Gastroenterology · doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000003155
Infections of the Nervous System
Harrold, G. K. (2024) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-12642-0.00009-8
Yellumahanthi, D. K. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-68406-7_6
Moustafa, N. M., Alsaif, N., Alsaeed, E., Alanezi, A., Algarni, A., Alkathery, L., & Mohamed, R. H. (2025) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.77302
Trigeminal neuralgia associated with herpes zoster
Пирадов, М. А., Maksimova, M. Y., & Sineva, N. A. (2017) · Annals of Clinical and Experimental Neurology · doi:10.17816/acen.2017.1.6165
Xia, W. Z., Cortes, R. E., Chin, K. F., Cobiella, C., & Lambert, S. M. (2025) · Medical Hypotheses · doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111604
Considering recombinant herpes zoster vaccine for fragile pediatric patients: A new opportunity
Mollo, A., Peri, M., Lodi, L., Gissi, A., Lionetti, P., Marrani, E., Mastrolia, M. V., Tondo, A., Tintori, V., Sardi, I., et al. (2025) · Vaccine · doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127072
Choure, M. S. B. (2025) · International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology · doi:10.22214/ijraset.2025.69220
Dietrich-Ntoukas, T., Mergler, S., & Uwe, P. (2025) · Springer Reference Medizin · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-65823-9_126
Marszałek, A., Górska, W., Łukawski, A., Bieńkowski, C., & Pokorska‐Śpiewak, M. (2025) · Zoonotic Diseases · doi:10.3390/zoonoticdis5020016
Boswell, N. D., Punyamurthy, N., Motaparthi, K., Elston, D. M., & Wanat, K. A. (2025) · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2025.04.087
Shlenkina, O. A., Medvedev, I. B., & Pokrovsky, D. F. (2025) · Annals of the Russian academy of medical sciences · doi:10.15690/vramn18054
Virale meningitis en encefalitis
Westendorp, W. F., & Brouwer, M. C. (2025) · doi:10.1007/978-90-368-3059-1_24
Preventing Shingles: The Overlooked Burden of Herpes Zoster and Its Impact
(2025) · The Singapore Family Physician · doi:10.33591/sfp.51.4.u3
Skripnikova, A. A. (2025) · L O Badalyan Neurological Journal · doi:10.46563/2686-8997-2025-6-2-98-104
Ramsay Hunt syndrome with V3 nerve involvement
Garrì, F., Ruggiero, F. V., Piola, M., Romano, L., Gangi, S., Ceriani, G., Capiluppi, E., Stival, B., Nasuelli, D., & Caso, V. (2025) · Practical Neurology · doi:10.1136/pn-2025-004827
Tada, S., Fukushima, K., Aizawa, Y., Kodaira, S., Jung, S., Tanaka, M., Kobayashi, T., Sekiya, R., Ajisawa, A., & Imamura, A. (2026) · IDCases · doi:10.1016/j.idcr.2026.e02732
A 62 Year Old with Painful Blisters on the Face
Norman, R. A., & Endo, J. O. (2012) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4471-4135-8_6
Symptomerfassung und -therapie
Friedrichsdorf, S. J., Zernikow, B., Wamsler, C., Baumann-Köhler, M., van Üüm, D., Berger, T., Reiffer-Wiesel, B., Brinkmann, O. A., Blankenburg, M. R., Frühwald, M. C., et al. (2008) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-48876-7_6
Common Viral Skin Diseases among Diabetic Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Dhaka
Khan, M. M., Mou, I., & Ahsan, K. (2025) · TAJ Journal of Teachers Association · doi:10.70818/taj.v38i04.0478
Durano, R. R. (2022) · Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine · doi:10.65564/pjim.1570952107
Temperature-Dependent Viral Pathogenicity: Implications for Attenuation of Viral Vaccines
Shiraki, K., Kawana, T., & Whitley, R. J. (2025) · Viruses · doi:10.3390/v18010048
Titiyal, J. S., Gupta, N. K., & Sharma, B. B. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-3148-6_17
Lee, J. H., Doo, A. R., Choi, S., Park, J., & Kim, Y.-D. (2026) · Medical Biological Science and Engineering · doi:10.30579/mbse.2026.9.1.67
Neuropathic Pain: Pathophysiology, Current Treatment, and Future Directions
Elkholy, N., Safwan, H., Rihan, N. F., Abdelwaly, A., & Helal, M. A. (2026) · Science and Technology Nexus · doi:10.25259/stn_22_2025
Hastanede yatırılarak izlenen herpes zoster hastalarının retrospektif olarak değerlendirilmesi
Acar, A., YOLDAŞ, A. H., Karaarslan, I., Ertam, İ., Ceylan, C., Ünal, İ., & Öztürk, G. (2021) · DergiPark (Istanbul University)
Choi, S., Schunkert, E. M., & Halverstam, C. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-53888-9_93-1
Rebmann, D. M., & Bosshard, P. P. (2026) · Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease · doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2026.117382
Research Progress on Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment for Herpes Zoster and Its Complications
孙颖哲 (2026) · Advances in Clinical Medicine · doi:10.12677/acm.2026.1631190
Wang, B., & Li, Z. (2026) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1710056
Sarenas, D. M. A. (2026) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.107145
Luan, S., Nan, J., Kong, L., Li, Q., Zheng, X., & Shang, N. (2026) · Medicine · doi:10.1097/md.0000000000048571
Furukawa, Y., Tanabe, M., Tabuchi, H., Gomi, F., & Fukushima, A. (2026) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.109260
HIV Enfeksiyonu ile İlişkili Herpes Zoster Oftalmikus: Olgu Sunumu
Emre, S., Moralı, H., Vatan, A., Güçlü, E., Öğütlü, A., & Karabay, O. (2026) · Akdeniz Medical Journal · doi:10.53394/akd.1713625
Marzouk, I. B., Rostom, S., Binoune, I. E., Ghoullam, G., Amine, B., Abouqal, R., Bezza, A., Allali, F., Bouchti, I. E., Ghozlani, I., et al. (2026) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.110965
Chin, H. W., & Affandi, A. M. (2026) · Malaysian Journal of Dermatology · doi:10.4103/mjd.mjd_22_25
Xu, X., Han, X., Li, X., Chen, L., Li, C., Ma, L., Ji, M., Zhang, Y. Z., Chen, H., Wang, X., et al. (2026) · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2026.06.062
Atypical Disseminated Herpes Zoster With Rapid Spread in an Older Adult
Paidi, G., Thomas, G., Yadav, P., Amirthalingam, J., Rosales, G. M., & Yadav, S. (2026) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.111509
Unlocking herpes zoster vaccination value in Finland: return on investment and actuarial model
Zarkadoulas, E., Raunio, H., Mauno, V., Postma, M. J., & Kotsopoulos, N. (2026) · The European Journal of Health Economics · doi:10.1007/s10198-026-01949-w
Reques, L., Humanes-Navarro, A. M., Jiménez-Bueno, S., & García-Comas, L. (2026) · Enfermedades infecciosas y microbiologia clinica (English ed ) · doi:10.1016/j.eimce.2026.503185
Portais, A., Lastère, S., & Boutolleau, D. (2026) · Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy · doi:10.1093/jac/dkag275
A Woman With Facial Weakness and Vesicular Lesions
Bellmann, P., Lammer, M., Böckle, B., Schartner, M., Ehrle, S., & Schmuth, M. (2026) · Annals of Internal Medicine Clinical Cases · doi:10.7326/aimcc.2025.1282
Ozsezen, E., Aslancan, B., Karakoyun, Ö., Ecer, N., Gevher, Ö. D., & Özsaraç, K. (2026) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm15197494
Therapeutic Excimer Laser Surgery – A Review of Current Indications
Kanclerz, P., Bazylczyk, N., & Khoramnia, R. (2026) · Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde · doi:10.1055/a-2950-3125
Guo, Y., Dong, X., & Chen, G. (2026) · Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine · doi:10.1111/jebm.70203
Huang, B., Lin, J., & Wu, X. (2026) · Frontiers in Medicine · doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1975268
Hong, Y., Park, J., Yoo, J., & Kim, K. (2026) · Medicine · doi:10.1097/md.0000000000051100
Systemic Infections with Cutaneous Manifestations
Corey, S., Mueller, K., Williams, A., Trinidad, J. C., & Stephens, M. (2026) · Dermatologic Clinics · doi:10.1016/j.det.2026.08.001
Atypical Presentation of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome in an Immunocompromised Patient: A Case Report
Rash, D. J., & Mangeni, O. (2026) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.118584
Quel est le risque infectieux viral d'un lupique ?
Néel, A., Espitia-Thibault, A., Lefebvre, M., & Hamidou, M. A. (2013) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-2-294-71447-4.50023-4
Entzündliche und immunvermittelte Erkrankungen des Nervensystems
Häusler, M., & Panteliadis, C. P. (2009) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-343723075-2.10016-0
The Role of DNA Damage and Repair in Ganciclovir-mediated Cytotoxicity.
O’Konek, J. J. (2008) · Deep Blue (University of Michigan)
Epstein-Barr Virus, Varicella Zoster Virus, and Human Herpes Viruses-6 and -8
Kamboj, M., & Weinstock, D. M. (2011) · Humana Press eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-60761-644-3_31
Metadata
- Authors
- Dworkin, R. H., Johnson, R. W., Breuer, J., Gnann, J. W., Levin, M. J., Backonja, M., Betts, R. F., Gershon, A. A., Haanpää, M. L., McKendrick, M. W., Nurmikko, T. J., Oaklander, A. L., Oxman, M. N., Langston, D. P., Petersen, K. L., Rowbotham, M. C., Schmader, K. E., Stacey, B. R., Tyring, S. K., Wijck, A. J. M. V., Wallace, M. S., Wassilew, S. W., & Whitley, R. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Rochester Medicine (US)
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Queen Mary University of London (GB)
- Birmingham VA Medical Center (US)
- University of Colorado Denver (US)
- Columbia University (US)
- Helsinki University Hospital (FI)
- Royal Hallamshire Hospital (GB)
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of California San Diego (US)
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Duke University (US)
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (US)
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Helios Klinikum Krefeld (DE)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- Corresponding author
- Dworkin, Robert H.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Clinical Infectious Diseases
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2007-01-01
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- Supplement_1
- Pages
- S1-S26
- ISSN
- 1058-4838 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-6591
- OpenAlex
- W2104761404
- Cited by
- 869
- References
- 253
- Citations by year
- 2026: 34 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 48 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 46 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 52 · 2012: 43
- FWCI
- 24.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Infectious Diseases (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Keywords
- herpes zoster, antiviral therapy, acyclovir, brivudin, famciclovir, valacyclovir, first-line therapy, postherpetic neuralgia, treatment guidelines, treatment costs, quality of life
- MeSH terms
- Valacyclovir, Famciclovir, Acyclovir, Analgesics, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Antiviral Agents, Bromodeoxyuridine, Herpes Zoster, Humans, Immunocompetence, Valine, Herpesvirus 3, Human, 2-Aminopurine, Immunocompromised Host
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review