A viral disease that can create a painful rash and many other symptoms is none other than shingles. This viral infectious disease is also known as herpes zoster. The major culprit in this whole picture is a varicella zoster virus. This is actually the same virus that is the reason for chickenpox. When a patient recovers from chickenpox the virus actually remains in the body inactively. It has the characteristics to reactivate after some years as a shingles. After reading this comprehensive article you will be in a position to know all the information that you will want about shingles, its symptoms, treatment and prevention. Let’s have a look.
What is Shingles?
As we have talked about above in the introductory paragraph, shingles are actually the reactivation of a viral infectious virus known as varicella zoster. During the chickenpox disease this virus actively performs but after the recovery of a patient it remains in the nerve issues of the body inactively. Now there is a simple question: why does this virus reactivate again. There are many reasons for its reactivation. The important one can be the weakness of the immune system. Besides that, stress and aging are also the contributing factors towards its reactivation. So when this virus activates again, it moves from nerve fibers to the skin and eventually it results in shingles rash.
Symptoms of Shingles
Due to its versatility its symptoms can be observed in stages or phases. In this part of the article we will discuss some common symptoms that you can observe in its early stages.
Pain and Tingling
The common symptom of shingles is feeling pain or itching before any rash appears. A person starts feeling pain in that area of the body where a rash will develop soon. The level of pain and discomfort can be minor to severe. It is mostly observed that this pain actually rises on one side of the body.
Flu like Symptoms
One of the most common symptoms in case of shingles is that a patient starts feeling headache, fever or some upset stomach just before the rashes appear on that particular area.
Other Symptoms
Now here in this part of the article we will talk about those symptoms that actually appear in the development of rash. Some of the symptoms are as follows.
Red Rash
Once the rash develops a person can see red rashes mostly in a band or script on one side of the body. In most of the cases this situation occurs in the torso. But there are also chances to appear on other parts of the body like the face or neck.
Blisters
After the appearance of red rash they turn into fluid filled blisters just like chickenpox. These blisters can break and ooze as well.
Crusting
Then a stage comes of crusting. The blisters after a few days start to draw out making a crust or scabs. In this stage the patient can feel pain and discomfort.
Postherpetic Neuralgia
Although this is somehow a rare condition but is a possibility. In some cases, pain and discomfort remain even after the end of the rash. This type of condition is commonly known as Postherpetic Neuralgia. Sometimes it can be severe and complex.
Who is at Risk?
It is the fact that shingles can affect anyone, especially those who have been suffering from chickenpox. But studies show that there are also certain factors that are responsible for increasing the risk of shingles. Some factors are as follows.
Age
Medical studies show that age is also one of the factors to increase the risk of shingles. Especially when the age reaches to over 50 then there are a lot of chances to develop this type of viral infection.
Weak Immune System
There are certain conditions and also the use of medication makes the immune system of the body very weak. Common examples are HIV AIDS, organ transplants and cancer treatments.
Stress and Trauma
In case of stress and physical trauma chances of shingles increases as these types of situations result in the reactivation of this virus.
Complications of Shingles
As we have come to know that shingles can be severe but on the other hand it also leads to serious complications. Let’s talk about this.
Vision Loss
Unfortunately if shingles targets your eye then it can really be very painful. In this condition it can lead to severe types of complications and even a person can lose his vision.
Neurological Problems
Neurological problems are also possible but this happens in real cases. If this situation occurs then it can have serious consequences on their brain. Some of the possible complications are brain inflammation, facial paralysis and hearing issues.
Skin Infections
There are also chances of skin infection in open blisters. These bacterial infections can lead to further issues in this context.
Shingles Diagnosis
Diagnosis is really very important for better treatment. In case of shingles after knowing about rash characteristics and its associated symptoms you can better diagnose it.
Treatment for Shingles
Unfortunately there is no cure for shingles right now but with the help of early and effective treatment you can reduce the chances and its duration to a greater extent. Here in the following we are talking about some effective treatment options that you can go for.
Antiviral Medications
The use of antiviral medicine is very helpful in reducing the duration of rash and pain. Some of the commonly used and useful medicines are acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir. These medicines will give you maximum results if they are taken within 72 hours of the rash appearing on your body.
Pain Relief
Non-prescribed medicines can also be taken as a pain reliever in case of shingles. The use of Ibuprofen or acetaminophen helps to reduce pain and discomfort. In case of complications you can also take prescribed medicine such as anticonvulsants, antidepressants or opioids.
Topical Treatment
You can also take creams and gels containing lidocaine or capsaicin. They are very useful in the treatment of shingles.
Antihistamines and Cool Compresses
The use of Antihistamines is really very helpful to improve sleeping and reducing itching. Try to apply cool wet compresses on the rash and take a lukewarm bath in order to soothe the skin.
Prevention
You can prevent shingles in the coming future only through vaccination. Two types of vaccines are available that are helpful in this viral disease. Let’s talk about it.
Shingrix
This vaccine is recommended for those individuals whose ages are above 50. In most cases it is given in two doses with a gap of 2 to 6 months. This type of vaccine is considered as 90% effective in preventing shingles.
Zostavax
Zostavax is a very older vaccine whose single dose is given to an affected person. It is about 51% effective in the prevention of shingles. Now in recent times it is not or less being used.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
There is no doubt about it that you can go for a medical treatment but with lifestyle modification and use of home remedies you can also get maximum results in treating shingles. Some of the home remedies that you can adopt are as follows.
Rest
Try to get enough sleep and relax your body to fight against the virus.
Healthy Diet
Healthy diet is actually a key to success in your overall health. Make a habit to eat a balanced diet full of nutrition and all those essential elements that are very important for your body to fight against viruses and bacterias. For this purpose fruits, vegetables and lean protein diet is really very important to boost your immune system.
Stress Management
Try to reduce stress in your life. For this purpose you can go for some useful practices like yoga, meditation and deep breathing. By adopting these stress management techniques you can lower the risk of reactivation of the virus which is responsible in case of shingles.
Avoid Scratching
It is commonly observed that most of the people scratch on rash which is not good at all. By doing this the chances of infection increases. So it is better to keep the rash neat and clean and dry.
Stay Hydrated
Keeping your body hydrated is very important not only in this case but also for your overall health. So for this purpose you can drink plenty of water and other fluid containing hydrated ingredients.
When to Visit a Doctor?
There are certain conditions that demand your professional doctor. Some of the important ones are as follows.
Rash Near The Eyes
If you observe rash or shingles near the eyes then it is better to go to your professional doctor for complete treatment. Because shingles near the eyes can lead to serious complications even vision loss.
Widespread Rash
Just go to your professional Healthcare provider in that case when rashes spread on the larger area of your body. If you also feel fever then it also can be the indication for a comprehensive medical treatment.
Persistent Pain
If you still feel pain after the healing of the Rash then this situation demands to consult your professional medical expert.
Living with Shingles
It can be very challenging for you to live with shingles. But don’t be worried because with proper treatment and self care many people around the world recover just within 3 to 5 weeks. Here we are going to give you some tips that can be helpful in this viral infection disease.
Communicate with Employers
If you want to take some rest in case of pain or discomfort during shingles, you can inform your employer about the situation that you are facing. Most of the employers understand the condition of shingles that will surely accommodate you in this whole scenario.
Seek Support
It is better to connect with your friends and family and inform them about the available condition of this viral infectious disease. Just get motivation and physical support from them in order to manage it more effectively.
Follow Treatment Plans
It is most important to stick to your treatment plans that your physician has recommended you. Just monitor your current condition and consult with your doctor on a regular basis.
Conclusion
Single is basically a viral type of infection and can have serious implications on your overall health. So due to its versatility it is very important to understand what are its symptoms and how to tackle this disease in an effective way. Those people who are above 50 years have a weak Immune system. In this case you have to consult your qualified doctor in order to vaccinate yourself against this infectious disease. Try to keep in touch with the new innovations in the field of medicine related to that. You should try to get emotional and physical help from your friends and family members.