Abstract

Objectives: To survey the characteristics of skin lesions and pain severity in Herpes zoster. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 85 patients diagnosed with Herpes zoster at the Dermatology Department - Hue Central Hospital and Dermatology Clinic - Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital.

Results: Females accounted for 68.2% and males 31.8%, over 50 years old accounted for 78.8%, patients with comorbidities accounted for 41.2%. More than 50% of patients had systemic symptoms, with physical symptoms including pain in 100%, burning in 51.8% and itching in 43.5%. The skin lesions had many types with percentage from 11.8% to 97.6%. Complications included scar, hyperpigmentation, bleeding, and ulceration. Severe, moderate, and mild pain levels were 60%, 21.2%, and 18.8%, respectively. The average pain level in the two groups under 50 and over 50 had no the difference. There were many damaged nerves, the average pain level of the V branch was 6.4, the C branch 5.6, the T branch 6.3, the L branch 7.3 and the S branch is 5.

Conclusion: Herpes zoster had many skin lesions, many damaged nerves; pain was in all patients and mostly moderate and severe.