What Is the Shingles Herpes Virus?
Most people have an emotional response to the word "herpes," which conjures up an association with the whole lot of sexually transmitted diseases. Alarmingly enough, 80% of the world's population has serological evidence of the herpes virus. About 20-30% of the US population tests positive for genital herpes. However, the more common types include the shingles herpes virus and chickenpox virus, which affects the vast majority of the world populace. More than 50% of Americans age 60+ will have shingles before they die. The blistering and itching of these viruses make them particularly troublesome, along with their immunosuppressant properties.
For microbiologists, the most telltale sign of herpes viruses, including shingles, is large double-stranded, linear DNA genomes that encode 100 to 200 genes containing viral proteins and viral mRNAs, which enable it to replicate quickly within the cells. What triggers the Herpesviridae and what causes shingles exactly is still unknown. At the start of the infection, the herpes virus particle looks for certain types of vulnerable receptor molecules on cell surfaces. Once the viral envelope glycoproteins bind to the cell membrane's receptors, the virion gets inside the cell nucleus, where viral DNA replication begins. After the primary infection subsides, the latent virus remains in the body for years. Later, they may be reactivated to cause a headache, fever, painful rash, swollen lymph nodes and a depleted level of "killer" T-cells.
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. Cytomegalovirus transmits through saliva. Roseolovirus transmits by close contact and possibly respiratory means. The chickenpox and shingles herpes virus transmit by close contact of the skin, with the more contagious chickenpox even transmitting through germs in the air. We can compare shingles most readily to oral and genital herpes because these viruses all target the mucoepithelial cells, where they manifest in unsightly rashes and blisters on the skin's surface.
While there is no current cure for the shingles herpes virus, there is a vaccine that is CDC-recommended for Americans ages 60+, which can decrease the risk of seeing chickenpox make its comeback. In the event that a patient does come down with shingles after being vaccinated, the duration of the symptoms will be much shorter and generally will not do serious damage to the nerves. In the future, researchers from Duke University and other esteemed medical campuses are trying to work out the protein codes that allow oral herpes virus and other forms to hang out in the body for extended periods of time. Scientists hope that, within 20 years, they can create an antiviral treatment that will finally eradicate these viruses.
Related topics about Shingles Herpes Virus
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.
The Shingles Virus Explained
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.
All About Shingles
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.