Many anti viral medications are effectively used in the treatment of shingles. But these medicines have the best effects if they are administered to the affected individual within 3 days of the rash appearing. The anti viral medications cannot stop the development of the red blisters on . . . → Read More: Treatment for Shingles]]> Anti viral medications are used in the treatment of shingles

Many anti viral medications are effectively used in the treatment of shingles. But these medicines have the best effects if they are administered to the affected individual within 3 days of the rash appearing. The anti viral medications cannot stop the development of the red blisters on the surface of the skin. However, when these medicines are given immediately after the appearance of the rash, they can act effectively by reducing the duration of the rash as well as the intensity of the rash. Timely intervention with the anti viral medication can also reduce the risk of developing post herpetic neuralgia.

Pain killers, antibiotics and corticosteroids can be used to treat shingles

Shingles are associated with extreme pain. The pain is intense burning pain, stinging pain or a tingling sensation in the affected areas. It is aggravated by even the gentle and light touch such as the touch of the bed clothes. Hence paracetamol, along with pain killers, creams and lotions are used to relieve the pain. However, the pain may be so severe that it may not respond to the normal pain relieving medications. In such cases the health care professional may look into prescribing alternative medications such as creams and lotions containing an extract of red chili peppers. The burning pain can also be relieved by applying cold and wet compresses to the painful areas. The blisters may also be associated with intense itching. Intense itching results in violent scratching of the affected areas of the skin. As a result of this, the shingles may get secondarily infected with bacteria. In these cases the doctor may prefer to prescribe antibiotics.

Treating post herpetic neuralgia

One of the major complications of shingles is the development of a condition known as post herpetic neuralgia. Neuralgia means pain along the nerve. This complication is more common in people who are over 50 and in people who have a low immune system. This is an extremely painful and debilitating condition. In extreme cases, the debilitating fatigue associated with this condition may make it difficult for a person to carry out their usual day to day activities. This results in severe depression. The condition may also be accompanied by weight loss. In such cases, the health care professional may also look into prescribing anticonvulsants, antidepressants and local anesthetics.

A vaccine is available that can help to prevent the shingles and its complications

There is a vaccine available for adults aged 50 years or older, called Zostavax. This vaccine can help to prevent shingles. If the person still gets shingles in spite of being given the vaccine, then the vaccine can help to prevent the complications of shingles such as post herpetic neuralgia. It has also been reported that people who have been vaccinated and later on develop shingles, have much less pain and the duration of shingles is shorter, as compared to people who suffer from shingles and have not been previously vaccinated.

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Onset of Shingles

The person suffering from shingles often complains of intense pain on an area of skin, especially on the trunk or face. This pain can be described as an intense burning pain, stinging pain or in other cases, the person may complain of a tingling sensation in the trunk and the face. This pain . . . → Read More: Symptoms of Shingles]]>

Onset of Shingles

The person suffering from shingles often complains of intense pain on an area of skin, especially on the trunk or face. This pain can be described as an intense burning pain, stinging pain or in other cases, the person may complain of a tingling sensation in the trunk and the face. This pain may be accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, fatigue and a general feeling of being unwell.

Appearance of rash on the skin

After 2 to 3 days of suffering from this intense pain, there is appearance of a red rash on the skin. The rash is more prominent on the trunk, abdomen and the face of the affected individual. This red rash is very painful. The pain is aggravated by even the slightest touch, such as the touch of bedclothes or in other cases, even a gentle breeze causes severe pain in the affected parts.

The rash begins as a group of small red bumps or small red elevations on the surface of the skin. These red bumps then become filled with a fluid. This gives the appearance of red fluid filled blisters. The fluid in these small blisters then becomes cloudy, and they break open to form a crusty surface. The development of the rash continues for about three to five days after its first appearance. The rash is often distributed in the form of a band across one side of the body or face.

Distribution of the rash on the skin

The blisters follow the path of individual nerves that come out of the spinal cord. As a result of this, the rash appears in a specific “ray-like” distribution. This is called as a dermatomal pattern. Generally only one nerve is involved. The entire path of the affected nerve may be involved. However, there may be development of blisters only in certain areas along the path of the nerve, whereas the other areas remain blister free. In a rare case, more than one nerve will be involved. After about 5 days, no further blisters appear. However, it can take up to 5 weeks for the skin to heal and return to normal.

Post herpetic neuralgia

In younger people, who have a healthy and strong immune system, the rash usually resolves without any further complications. However, in older people whose immune system is weak, there may be development of complications such as post herpetic neuralgia. This is an extremely painful and debilitating condition. The pain associated with post herpetic neuralgia is so severe that it may not respond well to the usual pain medications. The doctor may look into prescribing alternative pain medications such as creams containing an extract of red chilli peppers. In extreme cases, the debilitating fatigue associated with this condition may make it difficult for a person to carry out their usual day to day activities. This condition may also be accompanied by weight loss and depression. The health care professional may also look into prescribing anticonvulsants, antidepressants and local anesthetics.

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Shingles is caused by a virus known as varicella zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. People who have had a previous infection of chickenpox are at an increased risk of getting infected by shingles. This is because when a person gets chickenpox, the varicella . . . → Read More: Causes of Shingles]]> Who is at risk of getting affected by Shingles?

Shingles is caused by a virus known as varicella zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. People who have had a previous infection of chickenpox are at an increased risk of getting infected by shingles. This is because when a person gets chickenpox, the varicella zoster virus lives dormant in the nervous system and is never fully cleared from the body. This virus lives in an inactive state in the cell bodies of nerves that supply sensation to the skin. After several years, the dormant varicella zoster virus becomes active again in about 10 to 20 per cent of people. When reactivated, the virus multiplies and spreads along the nerve in which it has been lying in a dormant or an inactive state. This causes the development of the painful red rash that is the characteristic symptom of shingles.

What causes the dormant varicella zoster virus to flare up and cause shingles?

Varicella zoster virus lies dormant in the nervous system of the human body. The following conditions can cause the virus to be reactivated:

• 1. Emotional stress can cause the virus to flare up

But a stressful situation such as extreme emotional stress can cause the virus to flare up and leads to the development of shingles.

• 2. Advancing age increases the risk of getting shingles

People over 50 are at an increased risk of getting shingles as compared to the young people.

• 3. Weak immune system as in AIDS may lead to the reactivation of the dormant virus

Shingles is also common in people with a weak immune system, such as people living with AIDS or people suffering from a major illness where the immune system is weak.

• 4. Shingles is common in people with organ transplant or undergoing treatment for cancer

People, who are taking medications that suppress the immune system or people who have had an organ transplant or are undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments for cancer, are at an increased risk of developing shingles. It is also common in people, recovering from a trauma such as an accident or a major surgery.

• 5. Viral infections can weaken the immune system and lead to the development of shingles

Even in simple cases where the person is recovering from viral infections such as common cold or influenza, his immune system is weak and he may develop shingles.

When the immune system is damaged or suppressed, shingles can be severe with an increased likelihood of complications such as the development of post herpetic neuralgia.

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