After you've had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles. Shingles isn't a life-threatening condition, but it can be very painful. Vaccines can help reduce the risk of shingles. Early treatment can help shorten a shingles infection and lessen the chance of complications. The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia, which causes shingles pain for a long time after your blisters have cleared.
Shingles is characterized by pain or a tingling sensation in a limited area on one side of the face or torso, followed by a red rash with small, fluid-filled blisters. The signs and symptoms of shingles usually affect only a small section of one side of your body. These signs and symptoms may include:.
Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some, it can be intense. Depending on the location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for a symptom of problems affecting the heart, lungs or kidneys. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash. Most commonly, the shingles rash develops as a stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or right side of your torso. Sometimes the shingles rash occurs around one eye or on one side of the neck or face. Contact your doctor promptly if you suspect shingles, but especially in the following situations:.
The shingles rash is associated with an inflammation of nerves beneath the skin. Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus enters your nervous system and lies dormant for years.
Eventually, it may reactivate and travel along nerve pathways to your skin — producing shingles. But, not everyone who's had chickenpox will develop shingles. The reason for shingles is unclear. But it may be due to lowered immunity to infections as you grow older. Shingles is more common in older adults and in people who have weakened immune systems. Varicella-zoster is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses, which includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes.
Because of this, shingles is also known as herpes zoster. But the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles is not the same virus responsible for cold sores or genital herpes, a sexually transmitted infection. A person with shingles can pass the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who isn't immune to chickenpox.
This usually occurs through direct contact with the open sores of the shingles rash. There is no cure for shingles. It simply has to run its course. Treatment focuses on pain relief. Painkillers may help relieve some of the pain. Antiviral drugs may help lessen some of the symptoms and reduce nerve damage. Other treatments may include:.
However, complications can happen. The main complications that can result from shingles include:. Two different vaccines are available to prevent shingles. Experts recommend vaccination for all adults 50 and older, even if you've had shingles before. Talk with your healthcare provider about the most appropriate time for you to get vaccinated, and which vaccine is best for you. To reduce the severity and shorten the length of the illness, treatment must be started as soon as possible.
If you think you have shingles, call your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes shingles? Shingles is caused when the chickenpox virus is reactivated. After a person has had chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in certain nerves for many years. Shingles is more common in people with weakened immune systems, and in people over the age of What are the symptoms of shingles?
However, each person may experience symptoms differently. How is shingles diagnosed? The healthcare provider may also take skin scrapings for testing. How is shingles treated? Specific treatment for shingles will be determined by your healthcare provider based on: Your age, overall health, and medical history How long the shingles have been present some medicines are not as effective if given more than 2 to 3 days after the rash has appeared Extent of the condition Your tolerance for specific medicines, procedures, or therapies Expectations for the course of the condition Your opinion or preference There is no cure for shingles.
Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Shingles Herpes Zoster. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages.
Other symptoms of shingles can include Fever Headache Chills Upset stomach.
0コメント