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Neurological Damage Caused by Shingles

According to the Centers for Disease Control, shingles affects some one million people in the U.S. each year. This painful skin condition can resolve on its own, but it can also cause severe complications, including potential neurological damage, particularly in those over the age of 60. Neurological damage may result in temporary symptoms, but this is not always the case. Severe complications caused by shingles can be prevented by seeking prompt medical attention and taking preventive measures to decrease your risk of getting shingles.

  1. Shingles Overview

    • A shingles rash is simply the second presentation of the virus that causes chicken pox. Anyone who's had chickenpox before is at risk of getting shingles, and the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases estimates that two of ten people who've had chickenpox eventually get the shingles at least once. After chicken pox symptoms subside, the varicella-zoster virus that caused it continues to lay dormant in the nervous system. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's unclear what causes the virus to reactivate, but it's suspected that as the body grows older, the immune system is weaker and therefore more susceptible to shingles. A shingles rash presents as a clusters of watery blisters that typically affect only one side of the body, although shingles can also erupt on and around the face, too.

    Postherpetic Neuralgia

    • Postherpetic neuralgia is a condition caused by nerve damage that results from shingles. Long after the rash itself has healed, patients continue to experience severe discomfort, as the impaired nerves wrongly signal to the brain that the skin is experiencing pain. According to the CDC, one in five people continue to experience postherpetic neuralgia after shingles resolve, and the condition tends to be more common in those who are older. Postherpetic neuralgia after shingles can last for months or even years.

    Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

    • When shingles present on the outside of the ear (and within), in and around the mouth, and on other areas of the face, neck and scalp, this can result in a rare condition called Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The varicella-zoster virus impairs the nerves in the face, resulting in hearing loss, dizziness and lack of balance, and even facial paralysis. It's extremely important for patients who note shingles in this area of the body to seek prompt medical attention to avoid neurological damage that may be permanent.

    Getting Treatment

    • Prescription antiviral medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir can greatly decrease the duration and severity of symptoms, if a patient takes at least 72 hours before the rash erupts, during the early stage of shingles when symptoms such as pain and tingling in the skin are first noticed. However, patients who experience severe symptoms, and particularly those with postherpetic neuralgia, may require additional medical treatment, including use of narcotics, anticonvulsants or tricyclic antidepressants, to help manage pain.

    Can Neurological Damage Be Prevented?

    • If you've had the chicken pox before, you may not be able to completely avoid getting the shingles, but you can considerably reduce your chances of an outbreak. The CDC recommends that all adults over the age of 60 who are appropriate candidates receive the shingles vaccine regardless if they've ever had a shingles rash before. According to a CDC, a clinical trial in thousands of people over the age of 60 indicates that the instance of shingles was reduced by half and postherpetic neuralgia by 67 percent. The shingles vaccine isn't for everyone--those with certain illnesses or weakened immune systems shouldn't get it, nor should women who are pregnant or who intend to become pregnant. To read more about the shingles vaccine, see the Resources link below.

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