Herpes Zoster - Symptoms & Treatment

Shingles is not a new infection, it is rather, a second outbreak of the chicken pox virus. Herpes Zoster gets its name from both Latin and French words for belt or girdle and refers to girdle-like skin eruptions on the trunk. Shingles is primarily a disease of the elderly, but it can occasionally affect young individuals also Herpes Zoster commonly known as shingles, is caused by the same virus responsible for chicken pox. The virus responsible for these conditions is called Varicella zoster. After an individual has chickenpox, this virus lives in the nerves and is never fully cleared from the body. Under certain circumstances, such as emotional stress , immune deficiency (from AIDS or chemotherapy ) or with cancer , the virus re-activates causing shingles. In most cases, however, a cause for the reactivation of the virus is never found.- Herpes zoster is more common in persons with a depressed immune system, and in persons over the age of 50. It is quite rare in children and the symptoms are mild compared to what an adult may experience. Children who have weakened immune systems may experience the same, or more severe, symptoms as adults. Treatment is generally with antiviral drugs such as acyclovir (Zovirax), or prodrugs such as famciclovir (Famvir), or valacyclovir (Valtrex). For the antiviral drugs to be most effective, patients should begin taking them as soon as possible after the appearance of the rash, within 12 to 72 hours for maximum efficacy.

Also called shingles, herpes zoster is an acute unilateral and segmental inflammation of the dorsal root ganglia caused by infection with the herpes virus varicellazoster, which also causes chickenpox. Primary infection with this virus causes chickenpox (varicella). At this time the virus infects nerves where it remains latent (lies low) for years. It may be reactivated to cause shingles with blisters over the distribution of the affected nerve accompanied by often intense pain and itching. The prognosis is good unless the infection spreads to the brain. Eventually, most patients recover completely, except for possible scarring and, in corneal damage, visual impairment. Occasionally, neuralgia may persist for months or years. Herpes zoster is also called shingles, zona, and zoster. Risk factors for herpes infection include immunodeficiency secondary to cancer, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or HIV infection.

Causes of Herpes Zoster

The main cause of shingles is a decrease in your body's natural resistance, which may come through other infections, stress, being generally run down, or occasionally, when the body's immune defences are affected by certain drugs or other immune deficiencies. Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox (varicella-zoster). After an episode of chickenpox, the virus becomes dormant in the body. Most people get chickenpox from exposure to other people with chickenpox. It is most often spread through sneezing, coughing, and breathing. The immune system is also weakened by certain diseases like cancer and HIV and by certain medications like chemotherapy, corticosteroids and drugs to prevent rejection of organ transplants.

Find common causes and risk factors of Herpes Zoster :

• 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.
• The risk of getting shingles increases as you age. People have a hard time fighting off infections as they get older.
• People who have not had chickenpox could become infected with herpes zoster and develop chickenpox.
• Usually the cause is a decrease in your body's natural resistance, which may come through other infections, stress, being generally run
• Involvement of the facial nerve may cause Ramsay Hunt syndrome with facial paralysis, hearing loss, loss of taste in half of the tongue and skin lesions around the ear and ear canal. Shingles may, on occasion, involve the genitals or upper leg.

Signs and Symptoms of Herpes Zoster

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

• Fever
• Joint pain
• Drooping eyelid
• Lymph node swelling
• Headache
• Chills
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of eye motion

Treatment for Herpes Zoster

Treatment may include:

• Acyclovir and famciclovir shorten the duration of pain and symptoms in normal adults.
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, may occasionally be used to reduce inflammation and risk of post-herpetic neuralgia. They have been shown to be most effective in the elderly population. Corticosteroids have certain risks that should be considered before using them.
• Several creams, gels and sprays are being studied. These provide temporary relief from pain.
• Herpes Zoster can be treated with antivirals,anti-inflammatory medications and aspirin and other analgesics are used to relieve pain.these also reduce the duration of the disease.
• Secondary condition secondary conditions caused by herpes zoste may require surgery.