Shingles Disease: The Facts
The shingles disease is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is part of the herpes viruses that cause chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles, as it often lies dormant in the nervous system for years. Doctors are still researching to figure out what triggers the dormant virus in some people, but they speculate that it may be due to a lowered immunity to infections as the body weakens with age. The best hope against these diseases lies in the varicella zoster vaccine and the chickenpox vaccine.
Shingles begin with pain, burning, tingling and numbness in a small section on one side of the body. Several days later, a red rash begins stretching across the skin. Soon fluid-filled blisters break open and crust over, causing intense itching. For many people, the skin rash is accompanied by fever, chills, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Pain is the worst symptom of shingles however, which is sometimes so bad that people presume they're having heart, lung or kidney problems. Occasionally, shingles will appear encircling the eye, which can lead to infection or permanent damage. Patients are advised to call a doctor if the rash becomes widespread and painful.
Shingles disease complications range from mild skin infections to the severe postherpetic neuralgia condition (PHN). PHN refers to the severe pain long after the blisters have healed, which occurs when damaged nerve fibers send confused, distressed signals to the brain. Patients who develop this condition can receive pain medication, anticonvulsant medication and antidepressants until the symptoms subside. Depending on what nerves are affected, shingles can cause encephalitis inflammation in the brain, bacterial skin infections, eye infections and a condition known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which involves hearing difficulty, balance problems, facial paralysis and weakened facial muscles.
Within 72 hours of shingles disease, doctors like to prescribe oral antiviral medications, such as acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex) and famciclovir (Famvir). They often also prescribe medication for pain, like narcotics (Oxycodone), tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline), anticonvulsants (Neurontin) or numbing agents (Lidocaine). Patients are also advised to get plenty of rest, avoid strenuous activities and practice relaxation techniques like meditating, practicing tai chi, listening to music, reading books, watching movies or working on hobbies, which will take the mind off the pain. Sometimes it helps to take a cool bath or use cool, wet compresses to reduce blister itching. Over-the-counter medications like Advil, Motrine, Aleve, Benadryl or calamine lotion may also help.
Related topics about Shingles Disease
Treating Shingles to Relieve Pain and Itchiness
Once a diagnosis has been made, you will begin your shingles medication treatment with antiviral medicine that targets the root cause of your symptoms. Doctors say you should begin your treatment within two days of noticing the shingles rash to decrease your risk of developing complications like post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is the chronic pain that persists for weeks, months or even years after the lesions heal. If the virus is not directly attacked, then it may actually damage nerve endings, which can be very difficult to treat.
Treatment of Shingles Skin Rash
By the time you notice the red patches associated with a shingles skin rash, you have already had an active herpes virus in your system for one or two days. The shingles painful rash develops on one side of the face, chest or abdomen, where the nerves have been carrying the virus. The area where the rash develops is usually red, swollen and painful.
Treating Shingles in the Eye
The treatment of shingles in the eye is not very invasive, usually. If caught early (within the first 72 hours of the rash appearance), doctors will prescribe an antiviral medication, like acyclovir or famvir that weakens the virus and reduces the risk of developing serious side effects, like post-herpetic neuralgia, incessant pain or glaucoma and blindness. Prescription eye drops and topical creams help to reduce itchiness and pain both in and around the eye.