Shingles - Symptoms & Treatment

Commonly known as the herpes zoster virus, shingles is a late manifestation of the chicken pox virus known as varicella zoster. Shingles is most common in older adults and people who have weakened immune systems because of stress, injury, certain medications, or other factors. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. 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 or with cancer, the virus re-activates causing shingles. The first sign of shingles is often burning or tingling pain, or sometimes numbness or itch, in one particular location on only one side of the body. After several days or a week, a rash of fluid-filled blisters, similar to chickenpox, appears in one area on one side of the body. Shingles pain can be mild or intense.  Some people have mostly itching; some feel pain from the gentlest touch or breeze. Shingles can affect the eyes. This is due to the fact that the eyes are connected to nerves that may be infected with the virus.

Shingles comes from the virus hiding inside the person's body, not from an outside source. Generally, shingles heal well and problems are few. However, on occasion, the blisters can become infected with a bacteria causing cellulitis, a bacterial infection of the skin. If this occurs, the area will become reddened, warm, firm, and tender. The most common location for shingles is a band, called a dermatome, spanning one side of the trunk around the waistline. Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk for shingles. When the varicella-zoster virus reactivates, the virus moves back down the long nerve fibers that extend from the sensory cell bodies to the skin. The viruses multiply, the tell-tale rash erupts, and the person now has shingles. The rash and pain usually disappear within three to five weeks. The severity and duration of an attack of shingles can be significantly reduced by immediate treatment with antiviral drugs, which include acyclovir, valcyclovir, or famcyclovir. Antiviral drugs may also help stave off the painful after-effects of shingles known as postherpetic neuralgia. Most people who get shingles will not get the disease again, although it does come back in a few people.

Causes of Shingles

Common causes and risk factor's of Shingles:

• Varicella-zoster virus.
• Emotional stress.
• A weakened immune system.
• Being fatigued.
• Radiation treatments.
• Injury of the skin where the rash occurs.

Symptoms of Shingles

Some sign and symptoms related to Shingles are as follows:

• A shingles rash on the body.
• Itching of the skin.
• Headache.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Numbness beneath the skin.
• Muscle pain.

Treatment of Shingles

Common treatment of Shingles:

• Take an over-the-counter analgesic (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen) for pain.
• Antiviral drugs may also help stave off the painful after-effects of shingles known as postherpetic neuralgia.
• Apply cool, wet compresses to affected areas to relieve pain.
• Sometimes, topical corticosteroids are used to decrease inflammation.
• Topical medications may be used to soothe the area or prevent infection.