Herpes Zoster - Symptoms & Treatment

Herpes zoster is basically disorder skin disease characterised by Varicella Zoster virus. Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia result from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus acquired during the primary varicella infection, or chicken pox. They occur on neck, eye, back, hips, torso, arms or face or one side of the body. Shingles results from reactivation of the chicken-pox virus that remained in your body since you had chicken pox--perhaps many years ago. It commonly occurs in adults or young Herpes zoster is an acute , localized infection with varicella-zoster virus, which causes a painful, blistering rash.

Symptoms of Herpes Zoster

Symptoms of Herpes Zoster may complain initially of fever, malaise, unilateral stabbing pain that mimics appendicitis, tingling, itching, pleurisy, musculoskeletal pain, or other conditions. If an adult or child is exposed to the herpes zoster virus and has not had chickenpox as a child or received the chickenpox vaccine, a severe case of chickenpox may develop, rather than shingles.

• High fever
• Chills
• Burning, itching and pain in body
• Rashes in red color with blisters
• Headache
• Stomachache
• Tingling and small blisters that crust
• Loss of hair
• Abnormalities in tastes or vision
• Experience of malaise
• Lymph node swelling
• Abdominal and joint pain
• Genital lesions
• Warning symptoms of unilateral (on one side) pain, tingling, or burning sensation limited to a specific part of the body -- pain and burning sensation may be intense
• Reddening of the skin (erythema) followed by the appearance of blisters (vesicles)
• Grouped, dense, deep, small blisters that ooze and crust

Causes of Herpes Zoster

Varicella Zoster virus is main causes of Herpes Zoster which is generally skin disrder disease that affect by the chicken-pox virus. These viruses may be hidden in nerves and after infection it can develop herpes zoster. This disease is commonly found in people with weak immune system and old aged adults, some causes are include:

• Newborns baby
• Person who is affected with chickenpox
• Pregnant women who have infected
• Person with weak immune system
• Lesions may also occur on the neck or face, particularly along the trigeminal nerve in the face.
• Trigeminal nerve involvement may include lesions in the mouth or eye.

Treatment of Herpes Zoster

Early treatment for herpes zoster, ideally within 48 to 72 hours of onset, provides the best chance of minimizing neurologic sequelae, the treatment are following:

• Acyclovir helps to control the skin eruption. It is not a cure, but helps to heal the rash, provided treatment is started early. Acyclovir is taken by mouth.
• Many patients have experienced success with natural treatments such as Shingles No More and other shingles solutions.
• Even taking acyclovir may not eliminate discomfort, burning sensations, or pain. If the discomfort is mild, take Tylenol or a similar mild painkiller.
• If you have too much pain, we can order a prescription painkiller to take until the pain subsides. The pain is caused by inflammation of a nerve. Cortisone taken by mouth is sometimes used in treating the nerve inflammation.
• The blistering rash usually clears in a few weeks. The discomfort may persist longer.
• Treat your rash gently. Don't open your blisters. As long as there is blistering or crusting, compresses with dilute vinegar will make you more comfortable. Compress the blisters or crusts for 10 minutes twice daily with a mixture of one-quarter cup of white vinegar and two quarts of lukewarm water. Stop the compresses when the blisters have dried up.
• Later, when the crusts and scabs are separating, your skin may become dry, tense, and cracked. If that happens, rub on a small amount of white petrolatum (plain Vaseline) three or four times a day.

Prevemtion tips

• You should keep the affected area dry and clean.
• You should avoid contact with infected person.
• Vaccine will be prescribed for adults and teenagers
• Use calamine lotion on the affected area to relieve itching and pain.
• You should take rest for a long period.
• You should take ant-inflammatory drug.
• You should take an OTC pain reliever such as Motrin, Advil.
• You should wash the affected area with mild soaps and water.