Shingles : What you should know?

 



Shingles is described as a viral infection which causes a painful rash. Shingles is a viral infection which occurs anywhere on your body. Generally Shingles infection appears as a single stripe of blisters which wraps around the left side or right side of your body(torso).


Usually, shingles caused by the virus called varicella-zoster virus. It is a similar virus that can cause chickenpox disease. If you had chickenpox previously, that  varicella-zoster virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. Some years later, that varicella-zoster virus may reactivate as shingles.


Typically, Shingles are not that serious life-threatening issues but it can be very painful. Vaccines will help you only to lower the risk of shingles. Early treatment will help you to shorten the shingles infection and also it lessen the chance of future complications. One of the most common complications of shingles infection is postherpetic neuralgia. Shingles infection is a condition which causes pain for a long time after your blisters flushed out.


Symptoms


Shingles infection typically affects only a small portion on one side of your body. Some common symptoms are:


  • Pain, burning or tingling feel

  • Sensitive feel to touch

  • A red rash will appear few days after the pain

  • Sudden break of Fluid-filled blisters open and crust over

  • Itching


Some of the people also experience:


  • Fever

  • Headache

  • Sensitivity to light

  • Fatigue


Usually the first symptoms of shingles infection is Pain. Especially for some people, pain can be intense. Depending on the location of shingles infection pain, can be mistakenly treated as heart, lungs and kidney problems. In some cases, people can experience the shingles pain without developing any rashes.


Sometimes, people can experience the shingles infection rash which occurs around one eye or one side of your neck and face.


Causes


Generally, shingles infection is caused by the virus called varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes both chickenpox and shingles infection. Anyone who has experienced chickenpox previously may also develop shingles. After you recover from the chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus will enter your nervous system and it can stay inactive for later years.


In some period, the virus reactivates  and it travels through nerve pathways to your skin which produces shingles. But most importantly, everyone who has chickenpox will not develop shingles infection.


The exact reason for shingles infection is not clear. It may be of lower immunity to infections when the people get older. Typically, shingles is most common in older adults and also people who have very weakened immune systems.


Varicella-zoster virus comes under the group of viruses called herpes viruses. Some other viruses also come under the same group that causes cold sores and genital herpes. Hence, shingles are called herpes zoster. But this Varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox and shingles are not the similar virus that causes disease like cold sores or genital herpes which is usually called sexually transmitted infection.


Risk factors


People who have chickenpox previously eventually develop shingles. Most adults had chickenpox when they were children which was before the routine childhood vaccination which helps now to protect against chickenpox.


Some factors which increases the risk of developing shingles include:


  • Age. The risk will increase when they age. Typically, shingles can occur in people who are above the age of 50. People over the age of 60 are more likely to experience severe complications.

  • Some diseases. Disease which weaken your immunity level like HIV/AIDS and cancer which increases the risk of shingles.

  • Cancer treatments. Some disease treatments like Radiation therapy or chemotherapy which lower your resistance to diseases and it will reactivate shingles infection.

  • Some medications. Medications which prevent the rejection of transplanted organs may increase the risk of shingles. Long term use of drugs like steroids such as prednisone will increase the risk of getting shingles infection.


Shingles Diagnosis


Your physicians will diagnose shingles by examining your medical history and your symptoms and followed by physical examination. And they can also test your fluids from your blisters.


Treatment


Medications like Antiviral drugs will help you heal faster and lower your risk of complications. If you take them within 3 days of the beginning of the rash, it is most effective. So you must see your healthcare provider as soon as possible. You may be get one of these below medications which helps to fight the virus:


  • Acyclovir (Zovirax)

  • Famciclovir (Famvir)

  • Valacyclovir (Valtrex)


Some other treatments for shingles pain are:


  • Anticonvulsant drugs like gabapentin (Neurontin)

  • Cool compresses

  • Medicated lotion

  • Numbing medications like lidocaine

  • drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen

  • Prescribed painkillers like codeine


People who are experiencing shingles, they will have it only once. But in some cases it can come back if you have a weakened immune system.


Complications


Some complication from shingles infection which includes:


  • Postherpetic neuralgia. For some people, after the blisters flushing out can also continuous shingles pain. This illness is called postherpetic neuralgia. This can happen when the damaged nerve fibres will send a signal of confused and exaggerated messages of pain from your skin to your brain.


  • Vision loss. Shingles will occur in or around an eye called ophthalmic shingles which cause painful eye infections which result in vision los


  • Neurological problems. Shingles infection can cause encephalitis - inflammation of the brain, facial paralysis, or facing some problems in hearing or balance.


  • Skin infections.If the blisters of shingles infections are not properly treated, then they develop bacterial skin infections.


Shingles home remedies


Some home treatments will help you to ease your shingles symptoms. Some remedies include:


  • You should take cold baths or showers to clean and soothe your skin

  • You may apply wet cold compresses for the rashes to reduce pain and itching

  • You can applying calamine lotion or you can make your own paste with water and baking soda or you can use cornstarch to reduce itching

  • You must eat foods with vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and vitamin E

  • You can take L-lysine supplements which strengthen your immune system



Frequently Asked Questions


Q1. What is the main cause of shingles?

Ans: Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which is the virus that causes chickenpox.


Q2. What are the 1st signs of shingles?

Ans: Shingles is a painful rash that develops on one side of the face or body.


Q3. Who is at risk for shingles?

Ans: Age and weak immune system increase your risk of getting shingles.


Q4. How long do shingles last?

Ans: Rash, which typically appears after 1 to 5 days once symptoms begin and initially looks like small, red spots that turn into blisters. 


Q5. Do shingles spread?

Ans: A person with active shingles can spread the virus through direct contact with fluid from the rash blisters. 

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