Ho Chi Minh City: Severe infection due to self-treating shingles by applying leaves and "drawing on contracts"

Recently, Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital has received many cases of patients with severe secondary infections due to self-treating shingles with folk remedies such as applying leaves and "drawing on paper."

Doctors warn that using unproven folk methods to treat shingles can make the condition worse.

Recently, Mr. TVS (70 years old, living in Long An province) was hospitalized with many pustules on the skin behind his head and back.

Taking medical history, the patient said he had previously had throbbing pain in the back of his head, accompanied by the appearance of many blisters.

Following the advice, he went to a master in the village to have his skin “drawn”. For three consecutive days, the master burned incense, drew with Chinese ink around the blister area and applied tamanu oil.

A patient with shingles suffered a severe infection due to using the "drawing" method. (Photo: VNA)

However, his pain did not subside, but the blisters became pus-filled, more painful, causing fever and discomfort. Afterwards, his family took him to the Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital for examination and was prescribed hospitalization for treatment.

Another case is Mr. NVL (87 years old, living in Binh Thuan province) was also transferred to Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital in a state of pus in the forehead, left side of the head and eyes, fever, burning pain, and severe infection.

The patient said that 3 days ago, his forehead and left eye had blisters and pain. His family washed them with betel leaf water and gave him unknown medicine.

However, after noticing that his condition was getting worse, his family took him to Binh Thuan Provincial Hospital for examination and he was transferred to Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital.

Doctor Nguyen Vu Hoang, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital, said that shingles (also known as herpes zoster) is an infection caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus, which is also the virus that causes chickenpox.

After the first chickenpox infection, the virus is not completely destroyed but continues to "sleep" in the nerve ganglia. After many years, when resistance is reduced, the virus can reactivate and cause shingles.

Every year, Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital receives and treats nearly 10,000 cases of shingles, including many cases of severe infections and dangerous cellulitis due to patients' incorrect treatment such as "drawing on contracts" or applying leaves.

This reflects the fact that many people still believe in folk methods that have no scientific basis. In fact, these methods not only do not directly affect the virus that causes the disease, but can also make the disease worse, because using leaves or powders and inks of unknown composition to apply on the blisters can cause infection and ulceration of the wound.

Patients must abstain from bathing or cleaning the affected skin area, which also increases the risk of skin infection. This can make the skin infection worse, spread, or lead to serious complications.

In addition, delaying antiviral treatment in the first days because of reliance on incorrect measures can reduce the effectiveness of treatment, prolong the disease and increase the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia.

According to Dr. Nguyen Vu Hoang, there is a treatment regimen for shingles using antiviral drugs (such as acyclovir, valacyclovir...) combined with pain relievers and appropriate skin care.

If treated early (ideally within 72 hours of onset), the disease usually progresses more mildly, heals more quickly, and leaves fewer complications of post-herpetic neuralgia. In addition, there is a vaccine to prevent shingles, and people can get vaccinated to prevent the risk of getting the disease.

Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital has also implemented vaccination services for shingles, smallpox and HPV, common dermatological diseases with high incidence in the community.

From May 6-9, on the occasion of the opening of the Vaccination Room under the Examination Department, Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital organized free examination and consultation for people with shingles and chickenpox./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tp-ho-chi-minh-nhiem-trung-nang-vi-tu-chua-zona-than-kinh-bang-dap-la-cay-ve-khoan-post1036875.vnp