Shingles
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a disease caused by a virus in people who have previously had chickenpox. Shingles symptoms appear when the body’s immune system becomes weaker than normal.
People at higher risk of shingles include elderly individuals, people with weakened immune systems, bedridden patients, people living with HIV, and those with underlying conditions such as diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), heart disease, kidney disease, cancer, or insufficient rest.
Shingles is a common condition and can occur in people of any gender and age. Maintaining good overall health and receiving preventive vaccination can help reduce the risk of developing shingles.
Causes of Shingles
Shingles is caused by infection with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. It can spread through respiratory droplets or direct contact with fluid-filled blisters.
After a person recovers from chickenpox, this virus can remain hidden in the body’s nerve ganglia for many years without causing any symptoms. However, when the body’s immune system becomes weaker than normal, the dormant virus may reactivate and multiply, causing inflammation of the nerves and leading to shingles symptoms.
Symptoms of Shingles
Shingles may begin with itching, burning pain, or a hot, stinging sensation on the skin for 1 - 3 days before a red rash appears in the painful area. The red rash then develops into fluid-filled blisters arranged in a long band. The rash often appears in clusters or follows the pathway of a nerve.
Patients may feel sharp pain on the skin, even with only light touch or when clothing brushes against the affected area. Later, the blisters may break open, form scabs, and fall off within 7 - 10 days.
Even after the rash has healed, some patients may continue to experience pain along the affected nerve pathway. In some cases, other symptoms may also occur, such as headache, fever, fatigue, and sensitivity to light.
Difference Between Shingles and Chickenpox
Shingles usually appears as a rash or blisters in a long band-like pattern. It does not spread all over the body like chickenpox. In shingles, the rash appears only along the pathway of the nerve where the varicella-zoster virus has remained dormant.
The symptoms usually begin with a red rash, followed by raised, clear, swollen blisters. The blisters may then break open and eventually form scabs.
Common areas where shingles occurs include around the waist or along the rib area, the back, one side of the face, and the eyes. The symptoms are usually more severe than chickenpox and may lead to complications.
Complications of Shingles
Treatment of Shingles
Treatment for shingles depends on how long the shingles rash has been present. If the rash has appeared for less than 3 days, the doctor may prescribe antiviral medication, such as acyclovir, within 48 - 72 hours after symptoms begin. This helps reduce inflammation and pain, allows the itchy rash and blisters to subside and heal more quickly, supports recovery, and lowers the risk of shingles-related complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia.
However, if the shingles rash has been present for more than 3 days, the doctor may consider other types of medication together with antiviral treatment.
Prevention of Shingles
Shingles can be prevented through vaccination, which helps reduce the risk of developing the disease. Vaccination can also help reduce the severity of symptoms, relieve pain, and lower the chance of shingles-related complications. People aged 50 years and older who have previously had chickenpox should consider receiving the shingles vaccine to help prevent the dormant virus from reactivating and causing shingles in the future. People who have never had shingles may also receive the shingles vaccine to reduce the risk of infection.
Currently, shingles vaccines are available to help reduce the severity of the disease. Vaccination is generally recommended for people aged 60 years and older. For individuals with chronic diseases or other conditions that weaken the immune system, vaccination may be considered before the age of 60 or according to a doctor’s recommendation.
Current information suggests that one dose of the vaccine provides the best protection for approximately 10 years from the date of vaccination. However, receiving the vaccine does not mean that shingles can be completely prevented, but it can reduce the incidence of the disease and help lessen the severity of symptoms.
Reference:
Independent Writer
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