Shingles / Varicella Zoster

 19 September 2017   

What is Shingles / Varicella Zoster?

Shingles is a painful skin rash  caused by the varicella zoster virus. Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, a type of herpes virus that causes chickenpox

Shingles symptoms are headache , fever,  feel itching, tingling or pain in a certain area. That’s where a band, strip, or small area of rash may occur a few days later. The rash turns into clusters of blisters. The blisters fill with transparent fluid and then crust over. It takes 1 to 2 weeks for the blisters to improve

Shingles is self limiting disease . Doctor  will recommend medicines include antiviral and  painkiller to reduce pain and prevent complications. Starting antiviral medicine can help your rash heal faster and less painfull

Good home care can help you feel better. Take care and keep clean of any skinrash. Take your medicines as directed.

Transmission

Transmission of shingles are airborne droplets as well as direct contact . Patients are contagious several days before the skin rash appears and until last crop of vesicles. The Crusts are not infectious.

Complication

• Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which  pain that does not go away within 1 month. It may last for months or even years after shingles heals. It is common in people age older than 50 or in people who have a weakened immune systems
• Cranial nerve complications. Include :
  • Inflammation, pain, and loss of feeling in one or both eyes. May threaten your vision. A rash may appear on the side and tip of the nose
  • Intense ear pain, rash around the ear, mouth, face, neck, and scalp, loss of movement in facial nerves (Ramsay Hunt syndrome). Other symptoms include hearing loss, dizziness, and ringing in the ears. Loss of taste and dry mouth and eyes may also occur.
• Scarring and skin discoloration.
• Bacterial secunder  infection on the blisters.
• Muscle weakness in the area of the infected skin before, during, or after the episode of shingles

When to call Doctor

If you think you have shingles, please contact your doctor as soon as possible. Early treatment with antiviral will reduce pain and prevent complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia etc.

How to Diagnose

Diagnosis of herpes zoster is based primarily on the history and physical findings. In most cases, confirming the diagnosis via laboratory testing generally not necessary. Laboratory studies for Shingles include the following : Tzanck smear and viral cultures of vesicular fluid

Hospital admission should be considered for patients with the following:

• Severe symptoms
• Immunosuppression
• Atypical presentations
• Involvement of more than 2 dermatomes
• Bacterial severe infection
• Ophthalmic involvement
• Meningoencephalopathic involvement