Comparison of serum zinc Level in Patients with a History of Recurrent herpes labialis and Healthy People

Background and objectives: recurrent herpes labialis is the most common infective vesiculoulcerative ulcer. Based on some studies, topical and systemic administration of Zinc compounds has preventive and therapeutic effects. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the serum level of zinc in people with RHL and healthy people.Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was performed on 85 subjects including 43 patients with recurrent herpes labialis and 42 healthy individuals. The patients were selected from among the patients referring to the Shiraz school of dentistry in the year 1397 and were from people with history of herpes labialis and who were approved their herpes labialis virus by the oral and maxillofacial specialist. Healthy individuals were selected from patients who visited school of dentistry for dental examinations in the year 1397 and did not have any systemic and immunological disease and the recurrent oral lesion and no supplementary medication. Blood samples were taken from people and serum zinc level was measured in people. The results were statistically analyzed using SPSS software. Chi-Square test was used to compare the qualitative relationships and to compare the quantitative relationships independent T-test was used, to observe the relationship of quantitative factors including serum zinc level, the number of relapses and recovery rates correlation was taken. Results: Serum zinc level was not significantly different in both healthy and patient groups (p> 0.05). Also, zinc level was not different from age and sex factors and frequency of relapse (P> 0.05). But in the patients group, there was a significant relationship between zinc level and recovery period. As the serum zinc level was lower, the duration of recovery was significantly higher (p <0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that zinc deficiency is a risk factor for increasing the duration of the recovery period of herpes labialis. Therefore, the evaluation of serum zinc level in people with recurrent herpes labialis and subsequent administration of zinc is recommended, if necessary.