[Levamisole in the treatment of different forms of herpes zoster]

Fifty patients with early stages of herpes zoster (23 patients with the ophthalmic form and 27 with other localizations of the lesion) were treated with levamisol, since it was assumed that the disease is caused by the activation of the varicellazoster virus in association with cellular immunodeficiency. The control group consisted of 63 subjects, including 26 with the ophthalmic form. Beneficial results such as faster skin clearance and fewer days of hospitalization suggest that this agent should be recommended for combined treatment of patients suffering from herpes zoster.