Shingles is an infection that can occur in people who have had chickenpox. The virus that causes chickenpox (Varicella zoster) is the same virus that causes shingles. After the symptoms of chickenpox disappear, the virus stays in the body where it remains inactive for many years.
If the virus becomes active again, you experience it as an outbreak of shingles. Shingles usually appears as a painful rash on one side of the body or face. No one knows why the virus reawakens after being dormant for years or decades. Some doctors think that as we get older, our weakened immune systems allow the virus to re-emerge. Fortunately, once you have had shingles, you are unlikely to experience it again.
Who gets Shingles?
Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles at some point during their lifetime. However, the risk increases with age and people over age 50 have the greatest risk. By the time people reach their 80's, over half will have suffered a shingles outbreak.
The risk of shingles increases with age.
What are the Symptoms?
Shingles is associated with three main types of symptoms:
PAIN or UNUSUAL SKIN SENSATIONS:
Before the shingles rash appears, you may feel pain or unusual skin sensations on one side of your face or body. The unusual skin sensations include sensitivity to touch, tingling, or numbness. The pain is often described as a "throbbing", "stabbing", "sharp", or perhaps "burning " feeling. Pain sensations may come and go or may be continuous, and may be superficial or deep. You may also feel pain as the rash develops, during the rash, and even after the rash has disappeared.
RASH: A rash usually appears a few days after the start of the pain or unusual skin sensations, and typically develops on the same area of the body that you felt pain or unusual sensations. If you develop a rash, it is generally down one side of the face or body. In most cases, the rash stays in the area of the body where it first appeared and it does not spread to other parts of the body. The rash looks like al series of small, fluid-filed blisters. New blisters will appear over the first few days. At first these blisters are moist, but after a day or two they dry out to form scabs. The rash lasts about 3-4 weeks before it begins to fade.
OTHER SYMPTOMS: You may feel run down, listless or tired. Some people develop a mild fever.
Early symptoms include pain or unusual skin sensations, such as sensitivity to touch, tingling or numbness on one side of the body. A rash typically develops a few days later. If you have these symptoms- see your doctor immediately. Early treatment can prevent shingles pain.
Can Shingles cause Complications?
The most common complication of shingles is long-term pain. Some people will continue to experience pain long after the rash has healed. This pain condition, called postherpetic neuralgia (pain after shingles) or PHN, is believed to be due to lasting nerve damage caused by the virus. PHN sufferers may experience pain for several months after the shingles outbrek. Some people may even have pain for as long as a year. The risk of experiencing continued pain after rash increases with age. Another serious concern is eye problems. It is very important to see your doctor immediately if you have shingles symptoms near the eye.
Can Shingles be Treated?
Yes. If you develop shingles, the most important thing you should do is see your doctor immediately as soon as you experience any symptoms. If you see your doctor soon enough- in the first 3 days of the shingles rash- he/she can prescribe an antiviral medication. These medicines speed rash healing and can reduce shingles pain. In fact, early treatment with some of these medications can even reduce the duration of pain after shingles known as postherpetic neuralgia.
Is Shingles Contagious?
Most doctors believe that you can not catch shingles from someone else. However, anyone who has not had chickenpox should avoid physical contact with a shingles-infected person since shingles can cause chickenpox in people who have not had chickenpox during childhood.
What Can I Do if I Get Shingles?
Learn to recognize the symptoms of shingles in yourself or a loved one.
If you suspect shingles- see your doctor immediately
Remember: Older people have an especially high risk of shingles so learn to watch for the symptoms.
Pain (throbbing, stabbing, burning) or unusual skin sensations (sensitivity to touch, tingling, numbness) on one side of the face or body.
Rash and blisters in the same area.
Other symptoms such as feeling run down, listless or tired.
Early treatment will improve your symptoms and can reduce the duration of long-term pain known as postherpetic neuralgia.
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