COMPARISON OF THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF TOPICAL SOLUTION OF ZINC SULFATE AND ORAL POLIO VACCINE IN PREVENTING THE RECURRENT HERPES SIMPLEX INFECTIONS

More than 85% of the world population are infected with herpes simplex virus. Inability to eradicate it after infection is one of the unique characteristics of this virus. Numerous methods have been tried out in the treatment and prevention of recurrent episodes and its complications. However, research to find out an effective, inexpensive, accessible method with low complications is still to be conducted. This study is conducted to compare the effectiveness of topical solution of zinc sulfate with that of oral polio vaccine in preventing the recurrent herpes simplex infections. In this prospective clinical trial, 60 patients with recurrent herpes simplex (with more than 3 recurrences per year) were treated with 0.05% zinc sulfate solution and OPV (4 droplets each month for 3 consecutive months). Both groups were followed up for 6 months and the characteristics of each recurrence episode were examined in follow-up visits. Chisquare was utilized for analysis. According to the findings, statistical means of 3 follow - ups suggested significant effects of both zinc sulfate and OVP in reducing the frequency, severity and duration of episodes up to 60 to 70% at the end of sixth month (P=0.01); however, no significant difference was observed in the effectiveness of the two methods (P=0.192). Therefore it is concluded that zinc sulfate is an effective, available and low - cost treatment with delayed effects but equivalent to OVP in preventing recurrent herpes simplex episodes.