What is shingles?
Shingles is a viral infection called varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox in childhood. When chickenpox is healed, the viruses hide in the ganglia and do not cause any symptoms until the body’s resistance decreases, when they reactivate and spread along the nerve fibers to the skin, causing herpes and pain.
What does shingles look like?
Herpes zoster often appears as a cluster of blister-like rashes, usually located on one limb and distributed in strips. Unilateral herpes zoster on the head, face, and around the eyes is also common, but shingles can occur anywhere on the body.
Pre-rash symptoms of herpes zoster
The first symptoms that appear 1-5 days before the rash appears include the following.
Itching
Tingling
Burning sensation
Other symptoms
In addition to the rash and pain, which are typical of shingles, the following symptoms may also occur.
Fever
chills
Headache
Stomach discomfort
Differentiation of herpes zoster
Herpes that appears solely around the mouth is mostly herpes simplex, caused by the herpes simplex virus, and often occurs after traveling or doing farm work. If you are not sure, it is best to seek help from a doctor to confirm the diagnosis.
Causes of shingles
Varicella-zoster virus is the common cause of both chickenpox and herpes zoster. The initial infection manifests as widely distributed chickenpox, which then hides in the ganglia after the chickenpox has healed and reactivates when resistance decreases, leading to herpes zoster.
Diagnosis of herpes zoster
Doctors can often make a diagnosis of shingles by looking at the characteristics of the rash. If you suspect you have shingles, seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you have not had chickenpox, because many childhood chickenpox symptoms are mild and easily overlooked, but the virus is already infected and latent in the body. To prevent complications, the sooner treatment begins, the better.
How long does shingles last?
Shingles usually lasts 7-10 days and will completely resolve in 2-4 weeks. In most healthy people, it heals without scarring, pain or itching. However, for people with weaker resistance, recovery can be slower and even leave chronic pain.
Who is at risk for shingles?
All people who have had chickenpox are at risk for developing shingles, and the risk is higher in older patients. patients over the age of 60 are 10 times more likely to get shingles than children. Other risk factors include
History of tumor disease
History of hormone application
Chronic stress conditions
Immune system disorders, such as cancer, HIV
Can shingles be contagious?
Yes, but it may not be as contagious as you think. Herpes zoster does not directly cause shingles in those around you, but it can be transmitted to young children causing chickenpox. If a young child has not had chickenpox and has not been vaccinated, it is important to avoid contact with someone with shingles. Pregnant women who are not immunized are also among those who need protection.
Does chronic pain occur with shingles?
In some people, the pain of shingles may last for months or even years. This is due to the virus damaging the peripheral nerves in the area of the lesions, resulting in postherpetic neuralgia, a neuropathic pain. And this pain can be very intense, affecting the patient’s sleep, daily life, etc.
Other complications of shingles
If shingles appears around the eyes or forehead, it may lead to eye infections, temporary or permanent vision loss. If herpes zoster occurs in the ear, patients may develop hearing loss or loss of balance perception. In a small number of patients, herpes zoster may attack the brain or spinal cord. The key to avoiding these complications is to start treating shingles as early as possible to avoid damage to surrounding tissues from the virus.