Herpes zoster oticus: treatment with acyclovir.

Herpes zoster oticus produces facial paralysis with a low recovery rate. Acyclovir, a specific virostatic drug, was given intravenously in five herpes zoster oticus patients, and in three of them was followed by oral therapy. In follow-ups of 1 to 24 months, one patient had grade I recovery, three patients grade II, and one grade III. These good results encourage the use of acyclovir in herpes zoster oticus patients.