Shingles
is caused by a viral infection of the sensory nerves of theskin and
causes a painful rash on the skin. The medical name forshingles is
"herpes zoster." The virus that causes herpes zoster is
thesame virus that causes chickenpox (varicella).
KEYWORDS
for
searching the Internet and other reference sources
Dermatology
Infectious
diseases
Viruses
Zoster
What Is
Shingles?
A person
cannot develop shingles unless he or she has had chickenpox. Shingles
is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, the herpes zoster
virus. Whereas chickenpox is a highly contagious disease, shingles
usually is not transmitted from one person to another. However, a
person can develop chickenpox from coming in direct contact with the
blisters on a person with shingles. After recovering from chickenpox,
the herpes zoster virus may remain in part of the nervous system for
years without causing any illness. Shingles may be brought on as a
side effect of another disease, such as Hodgkin's disease (a cancer
of the lymph system), or from treatments that suppress the immune
system * . However, most of the time, there is no known cause for the
virus to become active and cause shingles.
* immune
system fights germs and other foreign substances that enter the body.
What Are
the Symptoms of Shingles?
The
affected skin area first feels sensitive, and then becomes painful.
Before blisters from shingles develop, a person may have chills and
fever, feel tired, and have an upset stomach. These symptoms may last
for 3 or 4 days. By the fourth or fifth day, a rash made up of small
red spots appears. The small red spots turn into blisters that are
filled with the herpes zoster virus. After another few days, the
blisters become yellow and dry out. Crusts develop over the dried-out
blisters. When they drop off after several weeks, they sometimes
leave small scars.
Usually,
the rash and blisters involve a limited area of skin, most often on
one side of the chest, abdomen, or face.
What Is
the Treatment for Shingles?
Treatment
for shingles is directed mainly at reducing the pain involved.
Medications are also used to attack the viruses. Wet compresses
applied to the affected areas can sometimes soothe the pain. Mild
pain relievers such as acetaminophen can be used.
Who Is at
Risk for Shingles?
Shingles
occur mostly in older people whose immune systems are no longer able
to keep the virus in the nervous system inactive. This age group
develops shingles more often, although shingles can develop at any
age. After an attack of shingles, a person may be immune for the rest
of his or her life.
Most
people recover from the disease without any problems. However, in
older patients, the pain may last for months or years after the
blisters have healed. This is called postherpetic neuralgia
(post-her-PET-ik noo-RAL-je-ah).
What Other
Diseases Can Herpes Zoster Cause?
The herpes
zoster virus can cause several other diseases:
Chickenpox is usually a mild disease that causes a rash and fever. It
is very contagious.
Herpes
zoster oticus, also called Ramsay Hunt syndrome and viral neuronitis,
causes ear pain, hearing loss, vertigo (a spinning sensation), and
may paralyze a part of the face.
Ophthalmic herpes zoster involves the eyelid and sometimes the eye
itself It can be serious if the eye is involved.
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