Refampicin ointment in white vaselin base (1%) showed a satisfactory therapeutic result in 44 cases of herpes zoster. The efficacy was rated on the improvement of vesicle and a relief of herpetic pain. After 6 days of the treatment, about 80% of cases showed the formation of a crust and about 80% had a complete dryness of the vesicles in 12 days. Postherpetic neuralgia remained unimproved in 4 cases, but about 80% of the cases were relieved of pain and 70% were completely freed from the pain in 12 days. The above findings indicate that this drug may shorten the treatment period as compared with other topical drugs available.
