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Medical Description of Shingles

Shingles is a painful viral infection characterized by a rash on one side of the body. According to National Shingles Foundation (NSF) estimates, approximately one million people in the United States develop shingles each year. A variety of medications are used to treat the pain and inflammation that often accompany this disease.

  1. Identification

    • The same virus that causes chickenpox is responsible for shingles. When you are infected with the varicella-zoster virus and develop chickenpox, a small percentage of virus particles remain dormant in the nervous system after you recover. If the virus becomes activated again, it uses the nervous system pathways to reach the skin, where it causes the characteristic rash that is common with shingles. Although it is not completely clear why the varicella-zoster virus reactivates, the disease is more likely to occur in people with suppressed immune systems.

    Symptoms

    • Before the shingles rash develops, you may notice that one side of your body hurts, burns, itches or feels numb. After a few days of experiencing these symptoms, the rash begins. Fluid-filled blisters that look similar to chickenpox appear on the skin, usually on one side of the body or in one area of the body. Shingles commonly appear on the trunk, near the waist. The level of pain varies from person to person. If you have a mild case of shingles, you may only notice some itching. If you develop a severe case, you may be in so much pain that the weight of a sheet on your skin can be agony. You may also have a fever, headache, upset stomach or chills

    Symptoms

    • Corticosteroids may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and lower the chance that you will develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a condition that affects some people after they have gotten over shingles. Antiviral medications, such as Famvir, Zovirax or Valtrex, help reduce the severity of the symptoms and the length of your illness, and can also be effective in reducing your risk of developing PHN. If pain is particularly severe, narcotic medication may be prescribed. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the pain of shingles subsides within 3 to 5 weeks in healthy people who receive treatment soon after developing the condition.

    Vaccine

    • The shingles vaccine (Zostavax) provides some protection from shingles for people who are 60 and older, and who have had chickenpox. While the vaccine may not prevent shingles from developing in every person, if you do develop shingles after having the vaccine, the severity of the disease will be greatly reduced. People who have HIV or AIDS, immune system problems or are receiving chemotherapy, radiation or steroid treatments are not eligible to receive the vaccine. The vaccine isn't recommended for people who have had lymphatic or bone marrow cancer, have untreated, active tuberculosis, or are allergic to gelatin or neomycin, an antibiotic used in the vaccine.

    Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN)

    • PHN occurs when the pain of shingles continues after the rash has disappeared. If you develop PHN, you may experience severe pain in the area where the shingles rash appeared. Touching the skin can be painful, as can exposure to the slightest stimuli, such as a breeze or the weight of clothing. Taking antiviral medication within 72 hours after developing a shingles rash can reduce your chances of developing PHN. According to the NSF, PHN can last for months or years, although many people will notice a gradual decline in symptoms over time. Treatment of PHN is aimed at relieving pain.

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