Symptoms And Treatments Of Shingles

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus which is associated with two distinct diseases: childhood chickenpox (varicella) and shingles (zoster). After an attack of chickenpox, the virus becomes dormant in sensory ganglia and may reactivate decades later to produce zoster (shingles) or herpes zoster. Shingles is estimated to affect 2 in every 10 persons in their lifetime. This year, more than 500,000 people will develop shingles. Fortunately, there is currently research being done to find a vaccine to prevent the disease.

Shingles is an outbreak of a rash or blisters on the skin that may be associated with severe pain. Early signs of shingles include burning or shooting pain and tingling or itching generally located on one side of the body or face. The rash or blisters are present anywhere from one to 14 days.

The origin of the term "shingles" remains a mystery even today. The word is derived from the Latin term "cingulatus," meaning "to encircle or wrap around." The word might refer to the pattern that shingles lesions often exhibit on the body, ringing the torso or trunk. The medical-scientific term for shingles, herpes zoster, comes from the French and Latin languages. Collectively, the two words mean "belt" or "girdle," again suggesting the girdle-like pattern of skin eruptions that often arise on the trunk of a person during an outbreak of shingles.

If shingles appears on the face, it can lead to complications in hearing and vision. For instance, if shingles affects the eye, the cornea can become infected and lead to temporary or permanent blindness. Another complication of the virus is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a condition where the pain from shingles persists for months, sometimes years, after the shingles rash has healed. The rash and pain usually go away within 3 to 5 weeks. Sometimes serious effects including partial facial paralysis (usually temporary), ear damage, or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) may occur.

Although it is most common in people over age 50, anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk for developing shingles. Shingles is also more common in people with weakened immune systems from HIV infection, chemotherapy or radiation treatment, transplant operations and stress.

Treatment for shingles includes antiviral drugs, steroids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and topical agents. Calamine lotion, wet compresses, and frequent baths can provide some measure of relief from skin eruptions. Precautions should be taken to avoid irritating the eruptions or exposing the blisters to dirt or other foreign substances that could lead to a skin infection. If the pain and discomfort are minor, nonprescription pain relievers will help in many cases. The severity and duration of an attack of shingles can be significantly reduced by immediate treatment with the antiviral drugs acyclovir, valacyclovir or famcyclovir. These drugs may also help stave off the painful aftereffects of shingles known as postherpetic neuralgia.

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