More articles can be found here:
Herpes zoster shingles is a common viral disease that is caused by the same strain of herpes responsible for chickenpox. It generally affects people over the age of 60 who have had chickenpox in the past. Symptoms include a quickly developing, painful skin rash accompanied by chills, joint aches, and fatigue. The condition usually clears up within about two weeks even without treatment, but doctors usually prescribe antiviral drugs and topical creams to relieve symptoms faster. Vaccinations are available to help prevent herpes zoster shingles in older citizens.
After a person recovers from a childhood case of chickenpox, the herpes zoster virus becomes deactivated in his or her body. It often remains dormant for life, but occasionally the virus reawakens and migrates to the skin. Doctors are unsure exactly why or how herpes zoster causes shingles, but evidence suggests that it takes advantage of the weakening immune systems of older adults. Younger people who have immunodeficiency disorders and those who take medications that suppress immune system functioning are also at risk of developing herpes zoster shingles.
Rashes can emerge anywhere on the body, but they are most commonly seen along the spine and the front of the torso. Within a few hours or days, a red, itchy, painful patch of skin grows and spreads. Pus-filled blisters arise, erupt, and crust over in the first two weeks of infection. Most people also experience flu-like symptoms of body aches, fever, joint pain, and night sweats. In addition, changes in vision, hearing, and taste are common. Rarely, an untreated case of herpes zoster shingles can cause paralysis in some of the muscles in the face.
A person who notices signs of herpes zoster shingles should schedule an appointment with his or her doctor. A physician can usually diagnose the condition simply by looking at the rash, asking about symptoms, and reviewing the patient's medical history. Once other causes of skin rashes are ruled out, the doctor can explain treatment options.
Most doctors prescribe oral antivirals such as acyclovir and famciclovir to shorten the course of herpes zoster shingles. In addition, a patient may be given oral or topical anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain and redness. At home, a person can use cold compresses and calamine lotion to ease itchy skin.
Herpes zoster shingles is largely preventable thanks to modern vaccinations. The vaccine for shingles is available in most developed countries, and it is recommended as part of a standard course of health care for adults over the age of 60. An individual who is interested in obtaining the vaccine can speak with his or her primary care doctor.
Depending on the nerves involved, shingles can affect many parts of the body.
The first symptom of shingles is often extreme sensitivity or pain in a broad band on one side of the body. The sensation can be itching, tingling, burning, constant aching, or a deep, shooting, or "lightning bolt" pain. If these symptoms appear on the face, especially near the eyes, seek medical help immediately. Other nonspecific symptoms that can occur at the same time are fever, chills, headache, and itching.
Typically, one to three days after the pain starts, a rash with raised, red bumps and blisters erupts on the skin in the same distribution as the pain. They become pus-filled, then form scabs by about 10-12 days. In a few cases, only the pain is present without the rash or blisters.
The rash disappears as the scabs fall off in the next two to three weeks, and scarring may result.
Some patients develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), in which the localized pain remains even after the rash is gone. As many as 15% of people with shingles develop postherpetic neuralgia; most of these cases occur in people over 50 years of age.
Topical itching on the face, eyes, torso or other parts of the physique is often the very first telltale sign of this condition, followed by fever and headache. You might also encounter stomach illness and reduced energy level just as the symptoms are about to appear. Formation of blisters and rashes in a particular pattern will be the most typical symptoms of shingles that help physicians diagnose this infection.
In case you don’t seek medical assist for shingles, it is going to pass by way of the early stage to a far more advanced stage. People suffering from Shingles develop a painful disease referred to as chronic neuralgia over this period as time passes by. To prevent this difficulty, you must be watchful and seek out a physician’s assist once you believe you may have Shingles disease or in case you have had Shingles and you are experiencing pain in tissues even right after getting rid of the blisters/rash caused by the Shingles illness. This pain might be severe enough to make a person cry, it truly is referred to as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). If not treated appropriately, Shingles can result in the following far more severe conditions, though this is rare:
The patient may lose eyesight
Pneumonia
Malfunctioning of some organs
Considering that Shingles is linked to the nervous system, the patient might develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
Often this disease could be so severe, it could lead to death
Is shingles contagious? Yes and no. What is meant by that exactly? You should read on to understand completely.
Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, Herpes zoster. After an individual has chickenpox, this virus lives near the nerves and is never fully cleared from the body. Certain circumstances, such as emotional stress, immune deficiency (for example from AIDs or chemotherapy), taking immunosuppressive drugs, or cancer, can reactivate the virus causing shingles. In most instances, however, the cause for the reactivation of the virus is never ever identified.
With chickenpox the shingles spots are contagious when they’re still moist, so if they’re blister-like it is advised to avoid getting in touch with other people. If the spots are dry and scabby your shingles are no longer contagious.
Most youngsters suffer from chicken pox at an early age, so by the time they reach adulthood they are already immune. This sort of virus can only be passed by means of direct physical contact with the moist blisters. This really is great news for many individuals as if they cover up the moist blisters they are still in a position to function, do the shopping, and other things.
Any woman who has not already had chickenpox must prevent contact with either chickenpox or shingles, especially if you’re pregnant. People who have a low immune tolerance and those who have or know somebody with shingles around you should take precautionary measures, such as:
Don’t share any sort of wash cloth or towel,
Stay away from swimming especially in a public pool,
Avoid sports where physical touch is necessary.
A woman who’s pregnant should prevent at all expenses from anybody showing to have an active shingles infection. If she has no history of chickenpox, the virus becoming shed could be passed to her, and ultimately her unborn baby. Should the expectant mother be exposed towards the shingles virus, she could develop chickenpox herself, and her baby could possibly be born already having chickenpox.
People who are in excellent well being and have immunity to varicella are not in danger of the zoster virus. You might be immune if you have been vaccinated against chickenpox or already had a chickenpox infection prior to. An active shingles infection is contagious to those with no prior history of varicella.
To stop infection, it’s advised to get vaccinated. Presently, Zostavax has been approved for our senior population. Zostavax is actually a one-time chickenpox booster injection and helps to avoid fighting shingles and its complications. It’s advised to obtain the chickenpox vaccination if you have in no way had one, or in case you have never had chickenpox before.
Finally the question is “is shingles contagious”? As it is possible to see from the write-up it is Yes and No, but you need to be extremely careful with a person who had the infection, for you do not want to contract the virus.
There is no cure for shingles, but treatment can help ease your symptoms.
If you develop the shingles rash:
Keep the rash as clean and dry as possible. This will reduce the risk of the rash becoming infected with bacteria.
Wear loose-fitting clothing. This may help you feel more comfortable.
Do not use topical (rub-on) antibiotics or plasters (adhesive dressings) as this can slow down the healing process.
Use a non-adherent dressing (a dressing that will not stick to the rash) if you need to cover the blisters, for example to prevent passing the virus to anyone else.
Calamine lotion has a soothing, cooling effect on the skin and can be used to relieve the itching. An antihistamine (a medicine that is often used to treat allergies) may also be useful for preventing itching at night. Before you use an antihistamine, read the manufacturer’s instructions or ask your pharmacist for advice.
To ease the pain caused by shingles, your GP may prescribe a painkilling medicine (analgesic). Several different painkilling medicines may be used, including:
paracetamol
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
opioids
antidepressants
anticonvulsants
For children, your GP will seek further advice, for example from a paediatrician (a specialist in the care of children and babies) if paracetamol and NSAIDs are not effective at relieving the pain.
The most commonly used painkiller is paracetamol, which is available over-the-counter (OTC) without a prescription. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure that the medicine is suitable for you and that you are taking the correct dose.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are an alternative type of painkilling medicine, which are also available OTC. However, NSAIDs may not be suitable for you if you:
have stomach or kidney problems, such as a peptic ulcer (an open sore on the inside lining of your stomach)
have had stomach or kidney problems in the past
have liver problems
have asthma, a condition that causes the airways of the lungs to become inflamed (swollen)
are pregnant or breastfeeding
Ask your GP or pharmacist if you are unsure about whether you should take NSAIDs.
For more severe pain in adults, your GP may prescribe a weak opioid, such as codeine. This is a stronger type of painkiller which is likely to be prescribed with paracetamol. An even stronger opioid, such as morphine, is unlikely to be prescribed by your GP unless they seek specialist advice first.
If you have severe pain as a result of shingles, you may be prescribed an antidepressant medicine.
Antidepressants are commonly used to treat depression, but they can also be useful in managing the pain caused by shingles. Antidepressants may be particularly useful if you have experienced severe or prolonged pain.
The antidepressants that are used to treat shingles pain are known as tricyclic antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants affect the levels of certain chemicals in your body. The most commonly prescribed tricyclic antidepressants are:
amitriptyline
imipramine
nortriptyline
If you have shingles, you will usually be prescribed a much lower dose of tricyclic antidepressants than if you were being treated for depression. This will usually be as a tablet to take at night. Your dose may be increased until your pain settles down. It may take several weeks before you start to feel the antidepressants working, although this is not always the case.
As with antidepressants, anticonvulsants are most commonly associated with treating another condition. Anticonvulsants are often used to control seizures (fits) caused by epilepsy. However, anticonvulsants can also help manage nerve pain. They work by stabilising electrical nerve activity within your brain. Gabapentin is the most commonly prescribed anticonvulsant for shingles pain.
As with antidepressants, you will have to take gabapentin for several weeks before you notice it working. If your pain does not improve, your dose may be gradually increased until your symptoms are effectively managed.
As well as painkilling medication, some people with shingles may also be prescribed an antiviral medicine.
This type of medicine cannot kill the shingles virus, but it can help stop it multiplying. Antiviral medicine may:
reduce the severity of your shingles, particularly if you take it in the early stages of the condition
reduce how long your shingles lasts
prevent complications from developing, such as postherpetic neuralgia, although the evidence for this is uncertain
Antiviral medicines are most effective when they are taken within 72 hours (three days) of your rash appearing. However, they may be started up to a week after your rash appears if you are at risk of severe shingles or developing complications.
Commonly prescribed antiviral medicines include:
aciclovir
valaciclovir
famciclovir
You will usually have to take this type of medicine for seven days.
Who is prescribed antiviral medication?
If you are over 50 years of age and you have the symptoms of shingles, it is likely that you will be prescribed an antiviral medication. You may also be prescribed antiviral medication if you have:
symptoms that affect your eyes (ophthalmic shingles)
a weakened immune system (the body’s natural defence system)
a rash on parts of your body other than your torso (the upper part of your body, excluding your head), such as your neck, arms or legs
moderate to severe pain
a moderate to severe rash
Pregnancy and antiviral medication
Shingles will not harm your unborn baby. If you are under 50 years of age, you are at less risk of developing complications from shingles. If this is the case, you may not need antiviral medication.
Antiviral medication is not usually necessary for children because children:
usually only experience mild symptoms of shingles
only have a small risk of developing complications
If your child is otherwise healthy, antiviral medicines are not likely to be of significant benefit, so they may not be prescribed.