What Symptoms Tell You That You Have Shingles

 

First of all lets establish what shingles is. Shingles (more technically called herpes Zoster) is caused by the same virus that you acquire chicken pox from. When this virus resurfaces a second time it is in the form of a painful shingles. Regarding the symptoms of shingles virus present in the system—first, you will likely experience pain, burning, itching, or tingling. The pain can be excruciating at just a mild touch of the hand. The pain can even occur in an area that causes it to resemble appendicitis, gallstones, or kidney problems. Sometimes there is a numbing sensation below the surface of the skin. Normally, in a case of shingles, the immune system becomes weak and the shingles virus runs along the nerve tissue to a certain area of the skin that the nerve supplies. After the pain begins, next the blisters start to surface. The blisters appear somewhere along the path that the nerve supplies. They often appear in only one side of the body. If the shingles is on one side, this is a good diagnostic sign that what you have are indeed symptoms of shingles virus. If a person has spots or blisters on the torso, they could experience spasms of intense pain even at the slightest touch. Know that once the chicken pox virus has been in the body, it hides itself after the chickenpox subsides. Later it resurfaces as shingles. These blisters can last for four weeks, then, eventually, they crust over. While the blisters are still oozy, a person with shingles needs to stay away from people, especially overly susceptible ones like sick people, people with weak immune systems, children, and diabetic people. So far we’ve named pain, burning, numbness, itching and blisters as symptoms of shingles virus. Sometimes other symptoms arise such as fevers and chills, headaches, and some abdominal pain and upset stomach. Not all the latter signs and symptoms may occur, but these are signs to look for.

Now, there are more serious symptoms whenever the shingles affects the eye. This type of “optical shingles” can leave the patient temporarily blind or cause them to have obstructed vision in the affected eye. An ophthalmologist should be called if you think the virus is in your eye. Also, if the location of the shingles on the face and neck are in a particular area, the hearing can be affected. You can also be temporarily paralyzed on one side of the face. Another severe symptom of shingles virus is Postherpetic Neuralgia. This happens when pain and other symptoms continue after the rash is gone. It is actually the ongoing pain itself that is known as Postherpecic Neuralgia. It is a merciless, tormenting pain. Many of the symptoms of shingles virus may be relieved by creams that should be applied at the first onset of the symptoms—the earlier the treatment, the quicker the relief.