Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The virus is the same one that causes chickenpox–and it can cause shingles if the person’s immune system has been affected and weakened by something else, such as an illness or another disease.
The varicella-zoster virus stays dormant in nerve cells near your spine for many years after you recover from chickenpox. If your immune system becomes weakened, the virus may reactivate and travel along those nerves to the skin surface. A rash of blisters may appear on one side of your body along a strip of cutaneous (skin) nerves. This is called a zoster rash, which can also be called “shingles.”
How to Prevent and Treat Shingles
Shingles can be a very painful condition in which the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox, reactivates in the body and causes a blistering rash. The infection typically starts as a blazing red rash that may blister over time. It is important to remember that this is not just a case of sunburn, but instead you have an active case of shingles.
The majority of people who get shingles are 50 years old or older and have already experienced chickenpox. There are ways to prevent and treat shingles though. For example, individuals can get the chickenpox vaccine to reduce their risk or act quickly if they suspect they might have it by taking antiviral drugs like Zovirax or valacyclovir (Valtrex).
There are two types of shingles
1) Zosteriform: This is the most common type of shingles that appears as a single stripe on one side of the spine or face.
Zosteriform is the most common type of shingles. It is a single stripe that appears on one side of the spine or face. Other types of shingles include annular and polycyclic.
2) Varicella-zosteriform: This occurs when a person has both types of shingles at the same time.
Varicella-zosteriform is a rare complication of chickenpox. It can occur when a person has both types of shingles at the same time.
Diagnosing Shingles- How Your Doctor Might Help You Make a Diagnosis of Shingles
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the same virus that causes chickenpox. It usually affects people who have a weakened immune system.
Shingles is typically characterized by a painful rash with blisters, which are often clustered in one area of the body. The lesions can appear anywhere on the body, but they are most often on the torso or face.
The doctor may take a swab from the affected area to test for varicella-zoster virus DNA or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies to confirm shingles if there is no history of chickenpox in recent years or if there is no rash present at all.
It’s important to note that shingles cannot be spread from one person to another, and it can only be spread by
Risk Factors of Shingles
Shingles is a painful condition that can cause serious complications in the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
Pain treatments for shingles can include:
There are several types of treatments for shingles pain. Some of the most common include:
- Pain medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help relieve the pain from shingles.
- Shingles antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, reduce the severity and duration of a shingles infection.
- Antidepressants have been found to be effective in relieving neuropathic pain associated with shingles.
- Electrodesiccation is a procedure in which an electric current is applied to the skin to remove damaged nerve tissue from a patient’s arm or leg.
About the Shingles Vaccine
The best way to prevent shingles is to get vaccinated with the Zostavax vaccine when you are first diagnosed with chickenpox or when you are 50 years of age or older. The vaccine can also be given to people who have weakened immune systems due to HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, organ transplantation, or other conditions that weaken the immune system.
Contact Heights Family Pharmacy at (313) 724-1111 to speak with a licensed pharmacist today.