Shingles

28/01/2008

Shingles (Herpes Zoster) is a common virus infection affecting the nerves that supply the skin.

It can be very uncomfortable, and may last several weeks. Fortunately it usually leaves no long-term damage.

The Herpes Zoster virus is best known for causing chicken pox - common childhood infection. Shingles only happens to people who have previously had chicken pox.

After recovery from chicken pox, the virus remains in the body for many years. It lies dormant (inactive) in the spinal column at the sites where nerves leave the spinal cord to travel to all parts of the body. These nerves, one on each side, each supply a specific 'slice' of our bodies.

In an attack of shingles the dormant virus somehow becomes activated, and travels along the nerve.

This produces a sensation of tingling, itching or pain in parts of the skin supplied by that particular nerve. Often there is a mild fever and general feeling of being unwell.

Over the next few days a rash appears in the area supplied by the afected nerve. This may be anywhere from the top of the head to lower leg.

Sometimes the nerves supplying  the face and surface of the eye are affected. This is a  particularly serious form of shingles that may result in permanent damage to the eye.

The shingles rash is like the rash of chicken pox, but concentrated in a smaller area. Redness is followed by lttle blisters, which burst and form a crust.

It is almost always on only one side, often stopping in dead straight line in the middle of the body. In about one in 100 cases both sides are affected. The affected area is often extremely painful.

For most people recovery takes three to four weeks. Scaring of the skin may remain and, especially in older people, the pain may persist for months or years after the attack is over.

Shingles cannot be cured, but attacks can be shortened by taking anti-viral drugs. Several different ones are available. These need to be started very early in the attack and taken according to a strict schedule.

Compounded creams are also available to shorten the duration and help with the pain of shingles.

 

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