http://SHINGLESDISEASE101.COM Understanding shingles disease and the shingles virus en-US Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:13:33 +0000 http://SHINGLESDISEASE101.COM/index.php 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.[...] http://SHINGLESDISEASE101.COM/treatment-for-shingles-pain.php Treatment for shingles pain ranges greatly, depending on the doctor and the patient's response, says Dr. Anne Louise Oaklander MD, PhD of Massachusetts. "Some people may find that over the counter anti-inflammatory and pain relief is adequate, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen," she explains, "but substantial numbers of people will need prescribed pain medications by their physician.[...] http://SHINGLESDISEASE101.COM/about-shingles.php In the case of most childhood diseases once you have the illness, and recover, you are done with it. Your body makes antibodies that prevent you from every having the illness again. There are some general exceptions to this such as the case with the flu but most other childhood illnesses do fall under this category.[...] http://SHINGLESDISEASE101.COM/shingles-disease-symptoms.php Many patients wonder, "Are shingles contagious?" They also wonder if they will experience these painful shingles disease symptoms more than once in their lifetime. Doctors can say with certainty that a person cannot catch shingles from someone who has shingles, but if they've never had the chickenpox before, they can catch that form of the herpes virus. So far it seems, almost without exception, that people will either never get shingles or will only have it once.[...] http://SHINGLESDISEASE101.COM/shingles-disease-vaccine.php Every year, 1 million Americans come down with herpes zoster, which is more commonly referred to as "shingles." This painful skin rash is much more common in people over the age of 60 who have weakened immune systems due to cancer, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune disorders, steroid use, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The best way one can protect him or herself from this unsightly virus is to get the shingles disease vaccine Zostavax.[...] http://SHINGLESDISEASE101.COM/shingles-herpes-virus.php The herpes viruses thrive on close contact for transmission. Oral and genital herpes are spread through sexual contact primarily, for instance. The Epstein-Barr virus is spread through tissue transplants, transfusions and from parent to child.[...] http://SHINGLESDISEASE101.COM/shingles-in-the-eye.php 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.[...] http://SHINGLESDISEASE101.COM/shingles-skin-rash.php 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.[...] http://SHINGLESDISEASE101.COM/shingles-virus.php Many people wonder if the shingles virus is contagious. While the chickenpox virus is extremely contagious and easily spreads from one person to the next via contact with the skin or lesion fluid, a person cannot get shingles from someone who has shingles. However, a person who has never had chickenpox can get the virus from someone with an active case of shingles.[...] http://SHINGLESDISEASE101.COM/treating-shingles.php 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.[...]