The Basics On Shingles-What Is It & How To Keep It Under Control
Shingles…isn’t that something that goes on my roof? Well, yes. But did you know it’s also a medical disorder? Shingles is actually associated with chicken pox. What happens is when a person recovers from chicken pox, the virus which causes it (Varicella zoster) isn’t actually expelled from the body. It’s simply subdued and then lies dormant in the nerves. For reasons not really understood at this time, the virus is capable of traveling through the nerves and attacking the body after many years. This second outbreak is known as shingles. Shingles affects roughly a million people annually in the United States. It is normally a risk for people over 50 or people with a weak immune system. Like it’s counterpart, the disease is rarely fatal. However, there are cases in which shingles causes some complication like encephalitis (brain inflammation). Also, shingles is dangerous for people with HIV or anyone with a weak or compromised immune system. It can also be very painful and uncomfortable, with symptoms such as the following: itching, headache, rash, fever, burning sensation, blisters, abdominal pain, tingling or numbness in certain area of the body, and upset stomach. The rash normally occurs on one side of the body, instead of all over. Touching the affected area may be excruciating. Unlike chickenpox which causes less pain and more itching, shingles causes less itching and more pain. The first sign may be just not feeling good accompanied with fever, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, chills, or headache. During the initial breakout period, shingles is contagious by coming into direct contact with the blister area. Children who have never had chickenpox are the most susceptible. The interesting thing is that if that child is exposed, they won’t get shingles—they’ll develop chickenpox. There’s actually no cure for shingles but there are medicines and other treatments that can suppress the virus once again. Upon diagnosis, your physician will likely put you on antiviral medicine to decrease the risk of complications down the road. Additional treatments include the following things:
For more serious cases in which shingles progresses into postherpic neuralgia, the pain of the disease can actually go on for months or even years. The good news is that less than 15 percent of people with shingles will be diagnosed with postherpic neuralgia. The doctor will then prescribe a combination of opioids (to diminish pain), anesthetics (to numb the pain), and anticonvulsants. If the pain persists for more than a year it may require surgery. A surgeon will block pain signals by cutting the nerve. There are additional cases requiring immediate treatment. If a rash is on the face (forehead, cheek, or near the eyes), it can cause blindness. These severe cases are rare, so you shouldn’t worry about them.
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