What is Shingles - Symptoms, Treatment and Vaccine Information

What is Shingles?

Shingles is the remnants of a disease that most of us have gotten when we were children. It is caused by the virus Varicella zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox. It is a virus of the Herpes variety, that lives dormant in the nervous system long after the disease has resolved. Long after we have grown up and forgotten we ever had chickenpox, it rears it's ugly head once again, usually after age 60, in the form a shingles, which is marked by a very painful skin rash. It has been known to appear in young children, as well as young adults. You are at risk for shingles if you have had chickenpox. In the US there are approximately one million cases of shingles per year.

Shingles comes alive again due to:

• Extreme emotional distress


• Immune problems such as AIDS or chemo


• Cancer

Although shingles (Herpes zoster) is part of the Herpes family, it is not the same as the STD (sexually transmitted disease) herpes, nor is it the same condition as the herpes sores a person gets around the mouth.

Shingles Symptoms:

Before the rash presents itself, you may feel some discomfort such as burning and skin sensitivity. Once the rash becomes apparent, it is characterized by small blisters with a red base, that follow along the route of the nerve fibers the virus has been living in. This is called the dermatomal pattern and usually only one nerve is implicated. The blisters break open and begin to drain of its fluid, causing a crust to develop, followed by healing. During this stage it is when shingles has the ability to spread. After the healing phase it is non contractible, meaning the virus is not shed and can not be passed on to another person. It should be noted that sometimes the pain will occur without the appearance of the blisters. This painful outbreak can last from three to four weeks.

Does it spread like chickenpox?

Just like chickenpox, shingles spreads by person to person contact. A person who is exposed to shingles can't get it, but they will end up with chickenpox, which will then increase their risk of getting shingles.

Treatment:

Treatment involves antiviral drugs such as:

• Zovirax


• Valtrex


• Famvir

Along with antivirals, pain medication may be prescribed by your health care professional, or over the counter paid medications may be helpful to reduce painful symptoms related to shingles. the affected area should be kept clean using soap and water, as well as the application of topical anti-itch solutions such as calamine lotion.

Complications:

Shingles can be further complicated by bacterial infections such as cellulitis, which is marked by redness and tenderness, as well as red streaks appearing around the affected area. This can be successfully treated with antibiotics. The risk of vision loss exists if the blisters appear on the face near the eyes. Another complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia, which is pain that continues for a month after the blisters have crusted over and healed up. This is also treated with antiviral medications.

Prevention and Vaccine:

Adults over 60 who have had chickenpox can be vaccinated against shingles with a vaccine called Zostavax, which is a chickenpox booster vaccine. However, persons with a weakened immune system should not receive this vaccine.

If you think you are having an attack of shingles, a visit with your health care professional is important to get treatment for symptoms.

by Barb Hicks, RN/LMT