Important Things you should know about shingles

 

Varicella-zoster virus – the same virus that causes Chickenpox is also responsible for causing Shingles. It is also known as Herpes Zoster. For those of us who have had chickenpox, chances of having shingles at a later stage in life are quite high. This is because the virus lies dormant near the spinal cord and reactivates itself years later as shingles. At the first stages of shingles uneasiness of health, fever, with an itchy rash may be seen. The main symptoms of this disease include a painful rash only on one side of the body. It usually presents itself on the torso – on front and back. It can also be present on limbs, near the eyes, genitals and face.

Additional symptoms include fever, headache, weakness and pain. In extreme cases, it is known to have caused vision impairment and paralysis. Doctors always encourage earlier detection and treatment so that the disease stops from spreading and also not infecting others. People over the age of 50, or those who have a weakened immune system are at a greater risk of catching this viral disease. Shingles treatment includes antiviral therapy directly targeted at Herpes virus. This is helpful in stopping it from multiplying further. Unfortunately, long after the rash disappears the pain continues for many weeks or even months – this is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

The good news is that there is already a vaccine one can take to prevent suffering from this painful viral infection. The Shingles vaccination is approved by doctors to all people aged 50 and above and recommended for those above 60. Shingrix and Zostavax are two approved vaccines available against this disease. Shingles normally lasts up to 2 to 4 weeks. It is a contagious viral disease which can spread to others through close contact even if the person has never had chickenpox. In case this ever happens, the person in contact with the first person will first develop chickenpox and not shingles. In order to prevent shingles from spreading, the patient must be isolated, the rash should be covered and not scratched, and hands must be washed often. Most people have shingles just once in their lifetime, which is again similar to chickenpox.