Evaluating Herbal Medicine for the Management of Herpes zoster in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients in Kampala, Uganda
Loading...
Date
1999
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine,
Abstract
This study was carried out to evaluate the potential effectiveness of herbal treat-
ments used for herpes zoster (HZ) by a great number of people living with acquired immuno-
deficiency syndrome (PLWAs) in Uganda.
Setting: Kampala, Uganda. Clinics of indigenous traditional healers, at the Department of
Medicine of Mulago Hospital, Makerere University, and at The AIDS Support Organization
(TASO) Clinic, providing primary care to people living with HIV and AIDS.
Design, patients, and participants: Nonrandomized, nonplacebo controlled, observational
study in two phases. Inclusion criteria included HIV seropositivity and a recent HZ attack. In
phase 1, 52 patients were enrolled, treated, and followed for up to 3 months at three healers'
clinics, and compared to 52 TASO Clinic controls receiving ambulatory care. Phase 2 was simi-
lar in design to phase 1, but lasted longer (6-month follow-up) and involved 154 hospital out-
patients treated with herbal medicine and 55 TASO controls. In both phases, healer patients were
given herbal treatment according to healers' prescriptions, while controls received either symp-
tomatic treatment or acyclovir.
Results: Healer patients and controls experienced similar rates of resolution of their HZ at-
tacks. Fewer healer patients than controls experienced superinfection in phase 1 (18% versus
42%, p < 0.02) and fewer healer patients showed keloid formation in either phase. This differ-
ence was not statistically significant.
In both phases, zoster-associated pain resolved substantially faster among healer patients with
a higher degree of significance in phase 2 where the progression of pain over time could be seen
because of the longer follow-up (phase 1: maximum p value (pmax) < Pmax < 0.02 at 1 month,
Pmax < 0.005 at 2 months, p^ax < 0.0001 at 3 months).
Conclusion: Herbal treatment is an important local and affordable primary care alternative
for the management of HZ in HIV-infected patients in Uganda and similar settings.
Description
Keywords
Herbal Medicine, Management, Herpes zoster, Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients
Citation
Homsy, J., Katabira, E., Kabatesi, D., Mubiru, F., Kwamya, L., Tusaba, C., ... & King, R. (1999). Evaluating herbal medicine for the management of Herpes zoster in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Kampala, Uganda. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 5(6), 553-565.