1995 Volume 7 Issue 1 Pages 27-32
The efficacy of HeNe laser therapy for pain attenuation in patients with herpes zoster (HZ) was evaluated in 33 patients. (8 males, 25 females with an average age of 50 years). The HeNe laser was applied with a noncontact scanning technique for 10 to 15 min per session. If necessary, subsequent laser therapy with a GaAlAs diode laser was used. Pain scores (PS) were obtained and evaluated at one month after the onset of HZ rash and at the end of laser therapy. At one month assessment, the HeNe laser therapy resulted in no pain (PS: 0) in 9 patients and slight pain (PS: 1-4) in 16 patients. At the final evaiuation, there was no pain in 20 patients and slight pain in 12 patients. No side effect associated with this treatment were identified. Our results suggest that the HeNe laser therapy promotes wound healing and reduces HZ pain and possibly the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia.