At the Loyola Center for Health at Homer Glen we have seen several cases of shingles. This is a painful viral infection that affects almost one million people worldwide and 30 percent of Americans every year.
Shingles, known as herpes zoster, is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, varicella-zoster virus. It occurs mostly in people over the age of 50. This is because the virus can lay dormant in the nervous tissue of the body for many years then become activated and cause shingles later in life. There are some conditions which put you more at-risk like:
- Cancer
- Autoimmune disorders
- Chronic lung or kidney disease
- History of chicken pox
A few days before the shingles rash appears you may experience the following symptoms:
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- Fatigue
- Headache
- Tingling
- Itching
- Burning Pain
Subsequently, a blistering rash in clusters appears most commonly on the chest and/or back. However, it can occur on other body parts. If you develop shingles on your face, especially near your eye, you should seek immediate medical care as this type may result in loss of vision.
The shingles rash is always located along the involved nerve pattern called a dermatome, typically in a band on one side of the body. If the rash that crosses the midline of the body, it is not shingles.
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The blisters that form will pop in a few days and become open ulcers which are contagious. These ulcers typically scab over within 7-10 days. The rash usually resolves within 4 weeks.
Fortunately, there is antiviral medication to treat shingles. Antiviral medications for shingles do not kill the virus like antibiotics kill bacteria but they help to slow the virus and speed recovery. The earlier these medications are started, the more effective they are against the shingles virus. It is recommended that you start these medications within 72 hours of the onset of rash. Since shingles can be very painful, you might also need prescription pain medication.
If you are diagnosed with shingles, you are contagious as long as you have blisters and ulcers. Since it can be spread from person to person it is important to cover your rash and wash your hands frequently. It also is important to avoid people who have not received the chicken pox vaccine, pregnant women and anyone with a weak immune system.
Most people with shingles do not suffer any complications. There is a 10 percent chance of developing a painful condition after the rash has resolved known as postherpetic neuralgia. This condition can last from a few months to years.
Fortunately, you can decrease your risk of developing shingles and its complications with the shingles vaccine known as Zostavax. This vaccine is available to people 50 years and older. People who have had shingles previously can still receive the vaccine. If you are above the age of 50 years old, you should talk to your healthcare provider about the shingles vaccines.
