Shingles

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:45

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Shingles is a painfull rash of blisters following the path of a nerve. Shingles usually affects the chest or back but may appear on the face and occassionally affect the eye.

Shingles Overview

Shingles is a viral infection that affects the skin. It's characterized by unilateral (one-sided), inflammatory, painful, fluid filled blisters.

Shingles Causes

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same as the herpes zoster virus that causes chicken pox. This virus basically attacks the roots of your nerves and produces blisters.

Even if you have suffered from chicken pox as a child, you are not immune to the virus, which can stay dormant in your body for years and may appear later as shingles.

Shingles Symptoms

Early symptoms of shingles include burning or shooting pain, and tingling or itching on the body or face. A sure sign is the appearance of blisters that last for over fourteen days.

One of the charateristics of shingles is that it appears along either the cranial or the spinal nerve. The blisters often run from the middle of your back around one side of your chest to your breastbone. They may also appear on your face along the path of the trigeminal nerve.

The pain caused by shingles can be severe and unbearable; it can last for weeks, months or even years. This debilitating complication is called post herpetic neuralgia.

Shingles Incidence

Around 20-25% of people develop shingles in their lifetime. Both men and women are affected equally. It's most common in older people, but those with weakened immunity are also susceptible, irrespective of their age-group.

Shingles Treatment

Although excruciatingly painful, shingles is not a life-threatening disease. There's no cure for shingles but there is medication for the pain and inflammation that will help to reduce discomfort. Preventive vaccination is available for people over 60 years of age.

Relieve itching by applying a cool compress; using a soothing lotion like calamine or a prescription steroid cream for severe symptoms.
Pain relief - paracetamol or ibuprofen are both available from your pharmacy and will help relieve mild pain. For strong pain and for post-herpetic neuralgia your doctor may prescribe other drugs, including narcotic drugs like tramadol or codeine.
Capsaicin cream contains an extract from chilli peppers and is known to help severe nerve pain.
Acupunctur is an ancient Chinese healing known to stimulate natural pain relief chemicals in the brain (endorphins), which can help with pain.

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