Some Factors Related to the Duration of Inpatients Treatment of Herpes Zoster by He-Ne Laser Therapy at Can Tho Dermato-Venereology Hospital

Abstract

Background: Shingles is caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus. The duration of hospitalization prolong will increase the risk of superinfection, costs for treatment, and quality of life. Objectives: (1) To describe clinical manifestations of herpes zoster inpatients at Can Tho Dermato-Venereology Hospital. (2) To survey some related factors related to the duration of hospitalization of herpes zoster by He-Ne laser therapy at Can Tho Dermato-Venereology Hospital. Materials and methods: the cross-sectional study on all shingles patients admitted to Can Tho Dermato-Venereology Hospital during the study period. Results: The proportion of group patients >60 years old was 54.9% higher than the group of patients ≤60 with 45.1%. Most shingles patients had secondary school degrees with 69%. The rate of patients admitted to the hospital early ≤5 days after symptom onset was 72.6%. Patients hospitalized for ≤7 days accounted for 77%. Patients with mild illness had the highest rate with 58.4%, and the rate of medium and severe illness with 36.3% and 5.3% respectively. Most patients had superinfection with 72.6%. The group of patients admitted to the hospital early ≤5 days had a shorter duration of hospitalization than the group of patients admitted to the hospital late after 5 days. In the patient's group with superinfection and more severe disease, the duration of hospitalization was longer than in the patient’s group without superinfection and the severity of the disease was milder. All differences were statistically significant, p<0.05. Conclusion: Early treatment with He-Ne laser therapy helps to improve the severity of the disease and the state of superinfection and shorten the patient's hospital stay.