Objective: Evaluating the clinical features, progress of the pain on Herpes zoster's patients over 50 years old after being treated with Valacyclovir. Subjective: 31 patients over 50 suffered from shingles, visiting Dermatology Clinics in Thua Thien Hue province from January 2010 to December 2010. Research Method: prospective study. Results: Clinical features: 31 patients (11 men and 20 women)
age group from 50 to 69 was highest: 22/31 cases (70,96 percent). Head and trunk were 2 common sites. The highest incidence rate of the shingles is in winter and spring, 17/31 cases (54,84 percent) came within the first 3 days. The early symptoms before vesicle eruption consist of burning skin, fatigue, headache, swollen lymph nodes and itchy. Pain was the predominant symptom in the vesicular stage: 29/31 cases (93,55 percent). The improvement of symptoms after taking oral Valacyclovir 1 g-1,5g per day: 4/31 cases (12,90 percent) had new vesicles in the first 2 days of treatment. After 7 days of treatment: no pain 16/31 cases (51,61 percent), mild pain 6/31 cases (19,35 percent), average pain 5/31 cases (16,12 percent), intense pain 4/31 cases (12,90 percent). Vesicles crusted after the 4th or 5th day: 19/31 cases (61,29 percent). Pain relief after 1 month, 3 months and 6 months: 70,96 percent, 80,64 percent and 87,64 percent. Painful state did not improve after 6 months despite of the combination treatment with analgesics: 2/31 cases (6,45 percent). Vesicles crusted without topical treatment.