Shingles (shingles): symptoms, medications, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is shingles (shingles / shingles)?

Herpes zoster is an infectious disease caused by the Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) . This virus is the same virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles is also often called shingles, shingles or shingles.

By the time you have chickenpox and recover, VZV does not go away from your body. Varicella-zoster can live and "sleep" in the nervous system for years before reactivating as shingles.

Even though they are caused by the same virus, there are a number of differences between chickenpox and shingles. One of the visible differences is the symptoms that appear.

This type of viral infection is characterized by a red skin rash that turns resilient and can cause pain and burning.

The elastic usually appears as a blister line on one side of the body, usually on the chest, neck, or face. Although this is not a life-threatening condition, shingles can be very painful.

Vaccines can help reduce the risk of shingles. While early treatment can help speed up the period of this skin herpes virus infection and reduce the chance of complications.

How common is shingles?

Most of these skin herpes diseases can be cured in 2-3 weeks. Shingles rarely occurs more than once in the same person, but about 1 in 3 people will get shingles at some point in their life.

This disease is more common in the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

Quoted from DermaNet NZ, anyone who has had chicken pox might catch shingles. Shingles can appear in children, but is more common in adults, especially the elderly.

The virus that causes shingles reactivates when you get older, usually after 50 years. This is caused by the aging process in the body.

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of shingles?

The initial symptom of shingles is usually pain, which may be severe because it is associated with one or more nervous systems. The pain may only appear in one spot or be diffuse.

In the initial symptoms, you may feel unwell, have a fever, and have a headache. Lymph nodes that drain the affected area are often enlarged and softened.

Within one to three days of feeling pain, a blistered rash will appear on the affected area of ​​the skin. The characteristics of the herpes skin rash that appear are:

• Red streak consisting of reddish spots that collect in one part
• Fluid-filled blisters that are easily broken (resilient)
• Rash covering from around the spine to the stomach
• Rash on face and ears
• Feels itchy

Like the symptoms of chickenpox, the rash starts out as red papules (spots). Over the course of a few days the blister will become bouncy. Then the elastic will break off and form a dry wound (scab).

The chest, neck, forehead, and sensory nerve supply areas are most commonly affected.

Shingles sometimes also causes blisters in the mouth, ears, and genital area. Symptoms of shingles that appear can also include pain in the skin without a rash or a rash without pain. This condition occurs most often in children.

Some people experience more signs and symptoms than the pain and rash in shingles. These symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness

When should I see a doctor?

If you experience any of the signs or symptoms of shingles listed above, consult your doctor immediately. Especially if you experience skin herpes symptoms such as:

• The rash appears around the eyes and is accompanied by a burning sensation
• Shows symptoms of shingles and is over 60 years of age because of a higher risk of complications
• Has shingles symptoms and has a deficiency in the immune system
• The rash or boil of smallpox spreads to many parts of the body and causes intense pain

Consulting a doctor is always a better step to find out which shingles treatment is right for you.

Cause

What causes shingles (shingles)?

Shingles is a disease caused by the Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) which is a type of the Herpes virus. Therefore, this disease is also known as herpes zoster and is included in the skin herpes disease along with oral and genital herpes.

Varicella-zoster itself is the virus that causes chickenpox. This means that anyone who has had chicken pox can also get shingles.

After you recover from chickenpox, the virus doesn't actually go away completely from your body. The virus will stay in the nervous system and sleep (dormant). During the dormant phase, the virus does not actively infect so that it does not cause disease.

Varicella-zoster that falls asleep and returns to active infection will cause shingles. Until now, it is not known what made the virus "wake up" again.

Experts suspect that decreased immunity to infection due to certain diseases and medications, including increasing age, is a major contributing factor to the appearance of chickenpox.

Is shingles (shingles) contagious?

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, someone who has shingles can spread the Varicella-zoster virus to anyone who does not immunize against chickenpox.

The transmission of the chickenpox virus occurs through direct contact with an open wound from a rash caused by shingles. However, people who are infected will get chickenpox not shingles.

Risk factors

What are the risk factors for shingles (shingles)?

Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles.

However, healthy people who have had chickenpox usually will not develop the condition later in life. The chance for this skin disease infection to reactivate is only about 1%.

Even so, there are several factors that can generally increase your risk of getting this skin herpes disease, namely:

1. Over 50 years of age

Shingles is most common in people over 50 years of age. This risk increases with age.

Some experts estimate that half of people aged 80 years and over will catch shingles.

2. Certain illnesses and stress

Certain diseases that can weaken the immune system, such as HIV / AIDS and cancer increase a person's chances of getting shingles. Likewise with people who experience stress or anxiety disorders.

3. Underwent cancer treatment

Radiation or chemotherapy can lower the body's immunity to the disease and trigger skin herpes.

People with some types of cancer can have a 40% greater risk than those who are healthy.

4. Using certain drugs

Medicines designed to prevent organ rejection during transplantation can also increase a person's risk of getting shingles. This is the same with the prolonged use of steroids such as prednisone.

Complications

What are the possible complications when experiencing shingles?

Some of the rare but serious complications of skin herpes include:

1. Postherpetic neuralgia

In some people, the pain caused by shingles continues until the wound heals.

This condition is called postherpetic neuralgia, and it occurs when damaged nerve fibers send confusing and exaggerated pain messages from your skin to your brain.

2. Loss of sight

Pain or rash covering the eye, which must be treated to avoid permanent eye damage

3. Nerve problems

Depending on which nerves are affected, shingles can cause inflammation of the brain, facial paralysis, or hearing or balance problems.

You may experience hearing loss or intense pain in one ear, dizziness, or loss of taste in your tongue, which can be symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

4. Skin infections

If shingles are not treated properly, a bacterial skin infection may develop and lead to skin infection.

Diagnosis

How do doctors diagnose shingles?

Most cases of shingles can be diagnosed through a physical exam. The doctor will also ask questions about your medical history such as whether you have had chickenpox before.

In diagnosing, the doctor mainly checks the rash or resilience that appears and looks at the pattern of rash distribution.

In addition, the doctor can perform several other tests if needed, such as taking a sample of fluid from the elastic to check for the virus that causes shingles.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor for more information.

What are the treatments for shingles?

Until now, there is no specific drug that can completely eliminate the virus that causes shingles from the body.

However, the right treatment for shingles is to use an anivirus drug prescribed by a doctor. These antiviral drugs for skin herpes can speed healing and reduce the risk of complications.

Antiviruses that are commonly prescribed as shingles drugs include:

• Acyclovir (Zovirax)
• Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
• Famciclovir (Famvir)

Shingles can cause severe pain. That's why the doctor may also prescribe medication to relieve pain from shingles, such as:

• Capsaicin cream
• Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin (Neurontin)
• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline
• A numbing agent, such as lidocaine, is available as an ointment, gel, spray or patch skin
• The injection includes corticosteroids and local anesthetics

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies for shingles?

There are several home remedies you can do to help deal with the symptoms of shingles, namely:

• Applying calamine lotion can provide a soothing sensation to the affected skin.
• Try taking a cold shower or using a cold wet compress when the elastic feels itchy and sore.
• Apply the solution oatmeal on the resilient part can also relieve pain as well as make chewy smallpox dry quickly.
• While experiencing symptoms, try to control the stress you experience by getting plenty of rest and sleep.

Prevention

How can you prevent shingles?

There are two vaccines that can help prevent shingles, namely the chickenpox vaccine and the shingles vaccine.

Chickenpox vaccine

The varicella vaccine (Varivax) has become a routine immunization in children to prevent chickenpox. This vaccine is also recommended for adults who have never had chickenpox.

Although it cannot guarantee 100% that you will avoid chickenpox or shingles, the vaccine can reduce the chance of complications and the severity of the disease.

Shingles vaccine

There are two vaccine options to prevent varicella-zoster virus activation, namely Zostavax and Shingrix.

Zostavax has been shown to provide protection against shingles for about five years.

Meanwhile, Shingrix is ​​this non-live vaccine made from a viral component, and is given in two doses, with two to six months between doses.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor to understand the best solution for you.