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Shingles - Shingles symptom, treatment, causes

Shingles is an acute infection in a sensory nerve at the point where it joins the spinal cord. This produces a blistering rash and pain in the area supplied by the nerve, shingles (also called herpes zoster) is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a member of the HERPES VIRUS FAMILY. When this virus is first caught it causes CHICKEN POX. After the patient has recovered from chickenpox the virus lies dormant in some or all sensory nerve roots, and may later (often after decades) be reactivated to cause shingles. Reactivation is believed to be associated with altered immune function, shingles is most likely in people with IMMUNO DEFICIENCY, but sometimes seems to be triggered by surgery, injury, other ill-ness or severe emotional distress.

Each year, an estimated one million Americans are afflicted with herpes zoster , a painful viral infection commonly called shingles, which is caused by the chicken pox virus. Shingles occurs most often between the ages of 50 and 70, but it can occur at any age. It is correctly known as herpes zoster. Chickenpox or varicella is the primary infection with the virus, Herpes zoster , also called 'varicella-zoster'. During this widespread infection, which usually occurs in childhood, virus is seeded to nerve cells in the spinal cord, usually of nerves that supply sensation to the skin. The virus remains in a resting phase in these nerve cells for years before it is reactivated and grows down the nerves to the skin to produce shingles (zoster). This can occur in childhood but is much more common in adults, especially the elderly. Shingles patients are infectious (resulting in chickenpox), both from virus in the lesions and in some instances the nose and throat.

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a disease that affects an  estimated 2 in every 10 people in their lifetime. This year, more than 500,000 people will develop shingles. This same virus causes the childhood illness chickenpox . After you've had chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in your nerves. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles. Sometimes, however, the rash can lead to a debilitating complication called postherpetic neuralgia. This condition causes the skin to remain painful and sensitive to touch for months or even years after the rash clears up. Early treatment can help shorten a shingles infection and reduce the risk of complications.

Shingles - The painful, blistery rash of shingles extends around the body from the spine to the front in the area supplied by the affected nerve - in this case the middle of the trunk on the right side.

Symptom of Shingles

The appearance of the rash is occasionally preceded by several days of fever and malaise, with pain in the area supplied by the affected nerve. Red blotches covered by many small blisters develop over I to 2 weeks. Within a week the blisters break to form crusts. Affected skin may be very itchy or painful. The rash usually fades in a month or two, but pale skin shadows and pain in the affected area may persist for much longer. Occasionally more than one nerve may be affected. and if both sides are involved at the same level in the spinal cord, the rash encircles the body. It does not spread outside the area supplied by the affected nerve or nerves.

Infection from the blister fluid may cause chickenpox in others but not shingles. Some common Symptoms of Shingles :

• Fever.
• Headache.
• Chills.
• upset stomach
• Joint pain.
• Hearing loss.
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of eye motion (ophthalmoplegia)
• Lymph node swelling.

Complication of Shingles

Pain, often severe, that persists for months or years after an attack is called post-herpetic neuralgia. If shingles affects the eye region, inflammation and ulceration of the cornea (transparent area in front of the coloured part of the eye) may develop and cause scarring that reduces vision.

Treatment of Shingles

Anyone who suspects they may have shingles should consult a doctor within 72 hours of the start of the rash, as early treatment with antiviral drugs can reduce the severity and shorten the course of an attack, and may prevent months or years of pain. Analgesics help to relieve pain, and wet compresses or applications suggested by your doctor will soothe itching. Many types of pain relief are used for postherpetic neuralgia. but none is consistently effective. Eye complications are treated by keeping the pupil dilated and using antiviral eye-drops and carefully monitored local corticosteroids.

• Acyclovir has been used for many years as a treatment for shingles. It is effective for people with HIV . Intravenous acyclovir is used to treat serious outbreaks of shingles.
• Calamine lotion may help to soothe the rash.
• Doctors often prescribe various pain medications for people with shingles. Injections of anesthetic drugs and/or steroids are being studied as nerve blockers.
• Famciclovir is one of the newest drugs to treat shingles. Famciclovir is actually the pill form of a topical cream called penciclovir .
• Valacyclovir is a "pro-drug" of acyclovir. Unlike acyclovir, valacyclovir needs to be broken down by the body before its active ingredient-acyclovir-can begin controlling the disease.
• Several creams, gels and sprays are beneficial and provide temporary relief from pain.