Shingles

Shingles is a viral disease also known as deadly or harming skin rash. It happens in one part of the body and chickenpox and shingles both causes by the same virus. This virus is known as varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and can be found in the family of viruses. This virus lives dormant in the nervous system of an human being after an individual has chickenpox, this virus never completely removed from the body as well. When someone have stress, immune deficiency (like AIDS) or cancer, this virus reactivates it selves and causes shingles. The risk of developing shingles is more in anyone who has had chickenpox in the past 6 months, although it is more common in people with the age of 55+ years. It has been estimated that millions of people have shingles each year in the United States only.

Symptoms of Shingles :

The patient feels deadly pain and sensitive skin several weeks or days before a rash is visible. These rashes usually come up with small blisters on a red base, with new blisters continuing to form three to five days. The blisters follow the path of individual nerves exiting the spinal cord in a "ray-like distribution (called a dermatomal pattern) and appear in a model of band-like area of skin. In general, only one nerve level is involved. In rare cases, more than one nerve will be involved. Eventually, the blisters pop, and the region begins to ooze. The affected areas will then crust over and heal. The duration of the epidemic can take three to four weeks from beginning to end. Occasionally, the pain will be present but the blisters may not appear. This can be a very confusing because of local pain.

Treatment Of Shingles :

The patient of shingles is given antivirals and pain relieving medicines, doctors advices patients to clean the affected area with a good soap and mineral water as well, healing and cooling powders and lotions are also advised.