Shingles – the Disease

A Quick Look and the Facts About Shingles

Shingles, medically referred to as herpes zoster, is caused by the same virus which causes chickenpox. When a person has chickenpox the virus responsible lays dormant in their system afterwards and is never fully eliminated from the body. Some people who have had chickenpox will develop shingles later on in life, while others will never have to deal with this tormenting condition.

Shingles is usually defined or recognized by a burning sensation, a tingling pain and sometimes itching or numbness. Usually these symptoms are experienced in one area and only on one side of the individual’s body. After a few days the shingles will cause an outbreak of fluid-filled blisters which are similar to those developed with chickenpox. These blisters will also usually develop in one area and on one side of the body. Shingles are most commonly located around a band known as the dermatome. This band spans one side of an individual’s trunk and around their waistline.

The prognosis for shingles is normally good. Most healthy people’s lesions or blisters will heal and won’t leave scars. The pain caused by shingles usually subsides within three to five weeks. However, the shingles disease can be very serious for individuals who have weak immune systems. People with HIV infection or those receiving cancer treatments may have a difficult time dealing with shingles. Also people who receive organ transplants, and are given drugs to suppress their immune system, are at a greater risk of developing shingles and dealing with the condition.

There are treatments available for shingles and there is ongoing research being carried out regarding this condition. Although shingles is not a health problem that is heard about every day, it is out there and can be quite tormenting for those who develop it.

Facts About Shingles and Chickenpox

There is plenty of information related to the shingles disease and its relationship to chickenpox available in medical sources and on the Internet. It is helpful to be knowledgeable about conditions such as shingles since this condition has the ability to affect so many people at different times and in different ways. It is helpful to have the facts and be informed.

Chickenpox, which is medically referred to as varicella, can be prevented by a vaccine. However it is possible for a vaccinated individual to develop chickenpox. When this happens, the condition is usually mild with few lesions or blisters.

It is also important to know that chickenpox is actually contagious even before the appearance of blisters. It is contagious from one to two days prior to any visual signs of the conditions and until after the blisters have formed scabs. After being exposed to an individual with chickenpox, it takes about ten to twenty-one days to actually notice symptoms of this condition.

Chickenpox can produce serious complications, even death. Adults are at a higher risk for serious complications from the varicella virus than children. It is believed that less than 5% of adults are at risk of developing infection from the chickenpox virus.

Pregnant women should be extremely careful and stay away from the varicella virus. If a pregnant woman develops this virus within the first twenty weeks of pregnancy, her baby is at risk of developing serious birth defects. This virus puts the unborn baby at a one in a one hundred chance of birth defects such as cataracts, small head size, shortening and scarring of their limbs, abnormal brain development and even mental retardation.

These are just some of the facts related to shingles through chickenpox development. For more information regarding shingles and chickenpox, an individual should contact a health professional or research available material on this subject.

Treatments for Shingles Disease

Most people who have the shingles disease will find that their symptoms subside after three to four weeks. The blisters would have all broke and healed and the pain would have subsided after three to four weeks. Some individuals however, those who’s systems are immunosuppressed may have more difficulties with the shingles disease. Some people in this situation, such as those receiving organ transplants are given drugs to suppress the immune system. This makes their bodies more vulnerable to a disease like shingles.

Three are medications used in treating shingles disease. The severity and duration of a shingles attack can be significantly reduced with the treatment of some antiviral drugs. Some of these drugs include acyclovir, valcyclovir and famcyclovir. When the shingles disease has subsided, it can leave some people with very painful after-affects. These painful after-affects are medically known as postherpetic neuralgia. This condition can also be treated with drugs. Some of these drugs include topical agents, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and steroids. Researchers have come up with a drug, a vaccine which will be given to older people, sixty and older who’ve had chickenpox sometime in their lifetime. This drug will be used as a preventative measure against the shingles disease in older people. This drug, Zostavax can only be used in an effort to prevent the shingles disease. Zostavax is not a treatment for people who have the shingles disease.

Shingles disease is a condition which can cause awful symptoms, specifically the pain. Shingles disease normally appears in those who’ve had chickenpox in their past. A person with a rash from shingles however, can pass the virus onto someone who’s never had chickenpox. This will usually be seen in children. The child however will not develop shingles disease, rather chickenpox. The virus which causes shingles disease comes from inside the body, not outside. Fortunately for those who do develop the shingles disease, there are treatments available to give them relief. Ongoing studies are continuing in search of other treatments for shingles disease.