Shingles

Shingles is a viral infection that cases a painful rash and can occur anywhere on your body.  Shingles most often appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or the right side of your torso, face or neck. 

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox.  Even after the chickenpox infection is over the virus may live in your nervous system for years before reactivating as shingles.

Symptoms of shingles

• Raised dot on your skin and redness in that area
• Stabbing or shooting pain
• Tingling in or under your skin
• Itching
• Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
• Some people may also experience:
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Muscle weakness

Once the varicella zoster virus gets into your body, the first problem it causes is chickenpox.  Many think of chickenpox as a childhood disease, but adults can get it too.  After chickenpox runs its course, the virus moves into the nerve tissues near your spinal cord and brain where it stays.  Sometimes the virus will “wake up” and will travel along nerve fibers to your skin.  That’s when it lands as shingles, also called herpes zoster.

Shingles risk factors

• Ages 50 or older
• Have had a serious physical injury
• Are under a lot of stress
• Have had HIV, cancer, or another disease that lowers your body’s defenses
• Take long-term steroids or other medicines that can weaken your immune system

The varicella zoster virus can be spread to people who have never had chickenpox and haven’t been vaccinated.  You are contagious until all of the sores have crusted over.  Until then avoid newborns, people with weak immune systems and pregnant woman who may not have had chicken pox or the vaccine.

Treatment

• FDA approved vaccines – Shingrix and Zostavax, these are recommended for people 50 and over
• Antiviral drugs (taken within 3 days of the start of rash) – Acyclovir (Zovirax), Famciclovir (Famvir), Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
• Over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
• Cool compresses
• Medicated lotion
• Colloidal oatmeal baths
• Prescription painkillers like codeine

The shingles vaccine does not guarantee you won’t get shingles but will likely reduce the course and severity of the disease.  There is no cure for shingles, but treating it as soon as possible can help prevent complications and speed your recovery.  Ideally, you should be treated within 72 hour of developing symptoms.