Shingles is a painfull rash of blisters following the path of a nerve, sometimes on the face and occassionally affecting the eye.
Shingles is most common between the age of 50 and 70. People with reduced immunity, such as those with HIV, or those undergoing chemotherapy are also especially susceptible to this condition.
The shingles rash commonly occurs on only one side of the body and usually affects the skin on the chest, abdomen or face. In older people discomfort may continue for months after the rash has dissappeared. This pain is called post herpetic neuralgia.
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, which remains dormant in nerve cells. When it is reactivated later in life it causes shingles. The reason for reactivation is unknown but shingles often occurs at time of stress or ill health.
The virus is easily spread by direct contact with a blister and will cause chickenpox in someone who has not already had it.
Shingles Symptoms
Initially you may experience tingling, itching and a sharp pain in or on part of your skin. After a few days the following symptoms may develop:
Painful rash of fluid filled blisters
Fever
Headache and fatigue
Within 3 -4 days the blisters form scabs. The scabs usually heal in about 10 days but can sometimes leave scars. If a nerve that supplies the eye is affected, blisters may cause inflammation of the cornea. Very rarely infection of a facial nerve can cause paralysis of one side of the face.
Shingles Treatments
Shingles can be difficult to diagnose until the rash appears, and severe pain following the line of the rib (where nerves run around the body) can be mistaken for the chest pain of angina.
Your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs to reduce the severity of the symptoms and the risk of post herpetic neuralgia.
Immediate treatment with antiviral drugs is essential if your eyes are affected or if you have reduced immunity.
Painkillers may reduce the discomfort and carbanaepine may relieve the the prolonged pain of post herpetic neuralgia.
Most people who develop shingles recover within 2 - 6 weeks, but up to half the people over 50 affected by shingles will suffer post herpetic neuralgia.
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