Shingles Nervous Disorder

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a condition that affects some nerves caused by infection with the varicella-zoster virus. Shingles may also develop into a chronic neuropathic (nerve pain) condition called postherpetic neuralgia.

Cause

• Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection leads to chickenpox. Then, after chickenpox clears up, the virus becomes dormant in some of the nerve cells of the body, causing shingles when it reactivates.

Risk Factors

• It is still not well understood why shingles reactivates when it does. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, known risk factors include aging (most outbreaks occur in people over the age of 50) and having a weakened immune system.

Effects

• Shingles causes pain that is often severe, followed by a red rash, on top of which appear fluid-filled blisters. Both the pain and rash occur along the path of the nerve affected by the virus, on one side of the body, generally on the torso but sometimes also on the head or face, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Treatment

• There are a number of different steps taken to treat shingles, including the administration of antiviral drugs (acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir), corticosteroids, pain relievers and topical agents, according to Seth John Stankus, MAJ, MC, et al., of the Eisenhower Army Medical Center.

Complications

• A chronic painful condition known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) can develop as a complication of shingles. This pain can be severe and long-lasting, and requires additional treatment, possibly requiring the use of some tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants, according to Stankus, et al.

Prevention

• The shingles vaccine is recommended for use in adults over the age of 60. The vaccine cannot prevent an individual from developing shingles, but it reduces the effects of the condition and also minimizes complications, according to the Mayo Clinic.