Shingles is a painful infection in nerve roots. The other name for shingles is herpes zoster. According to the Centers for Disease Control: Herpes zoster vaccine Q&A shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. If a person has ever had chickenpox, they are also at risk for developing shingles at some point in their lives Cdc.gov "Herpes zoster vaccine Q&A" (accessed February 12, 2010).
This virus can flare up again in the form of shingles if a person has a weak immune system, experiences a stressful event, has an injury or has another illness. Sometimes medications can cause the virus to flair into shingles. Shingles will eventually go away and people who get shingles will get better and will not get it again. Shingles are not contagious but a person who has shingles can spread chickenpox to another person who has not had the infection before.
Signs and Symptoms of Shingles
Early symptoms of shingles include headache, sensitivity to light and flu-like symptoms. A person with shingles does not run fever. The symptoms happen in stages. The next stage of shingles will be itching, tingling and pain on one side of the body. A few days later, these symptoms may also be accompanied by a rash. This area of itching, pain and rash will be like a band or strip on one side of the body.
The rash turns into a cluster of blisters which fill with fluid and then become crusty. It can take two to four weeks for this rash to heal completely. Sometimes, these blisters will leave scars.
More serious symptoms of shingles can occur. Shingles can make a person feel weak or dizzy. The pain can be long-term and the rash can spread to the face and other parts of the body. Shingles can affect vision and a person’s ability to think clearly. If these symptoms occur, it is important to contact a doctor as soon as possible.
How to Take Care of Shingles
Shingles cannot be cured but it can be treated. Treatment can include pain medications, skin creams, antiviral medications, antidepressants and other prescriptions ordered by a physician. If taking medications, it is very important to take them as directed.
There are some over-the-counter remedies that can help. Some examples of pain relieving medication are ibuprofens, naproxen, acetylsalicylic acid or acetaminophen. Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine may help relieve the itch and sting of shingles. Anti-itch creams may also help reduce the symptoms.
Home remedies can also help a person with shingles feel better faster. Skin rash and blisters should be kept clean and dry. A person should avoid scratching. Adequate sleep and rest is an important part of taking care of shingles. Strenuous activities should be avoided. Stressful events can be relieved through relaxation techniques. Diverting attention from the pain may be essential. Some diversions include listening to music, watching television, reading a book, working a puzzle, or working on a hobby.
A cool soak in a bathtub can be helpful. Wet compresses applied to the areas of rash and blisters will also help relieve pain and itching. More information about shingles, how to relieve symptoms and other resources, can be found at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke ninds.nih.gov "Shingles: Hope through research" (accessed February 12, 2010).
Mary Ann George - I am a registered nurse currently working as a case manager in the home health industry. My credentials include a BS degree in education, ...
