[Acyclovir in the treatment of facial palsy due to zoster virus].

The varicella zoster virus (VZV) is the cause of 7-10% of the cases of atraumatic facial palsy. In untreated cases, recovery is only partial. Out of five patients, treatment with acyclovir resulted in complete recovery after three weeks in four in whom treatment was commenced within three days of the onset of the palsy. In one patient in whom treatment was commenced more than four days after the onset of the palsy, only partial recovery had occurred after one year.