Shingles
Shingles is described as a painful rash that is usually seen on the spine, stomach, and chest.
It occurs from the same virus that is responsible for chickenpox. This virus remains dormant in a person who has had chickenpox and may be reactivated in the nerves.
Shingles are most likely to occur in a person who developed chickenpox as a child, is older than 60, and have other immune system issues.
A child exposed to a person with shingles may develop chickenpox but and adult exposed will not become infected as well.
Symptoms
- Tingling/burning before rash appears
- Rash/ blisters
- Abdominal pain
- Chills
- Fever
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Swollen glands
It is diagnosed through the patient’s medical history, observation of the rash, and sometimes through a skin sample test to see if it is infected with the virus.
Treatment
- Antiviral
- Corticosteroids
- Antihistamines
- Zostrix
- Pain medications
- Calamine lotion
- Cool compress
- Keep skin clean
Contaminated items should be washed in boiling water or thrown away. Shingles usually clears up in two or three weeks and hardly occurs again.
Complications include Post Herpetic Neuralgia, which is described as pain that lasts for months and years in the area where shingles had occurred.
Immediate medical care should be used if shingles has affected the eye as it can result in permanent blindness. A vaccine is available for adults over the age of 60.