Shingles treatment - symptoms and treatment

Shingles treatment - symptoms and treatment

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox. People who suffer from shingles exhibit early signs and symptoms include burning or tingling pain, numbness under the skin, chills, headache, stomach pain, or fever. Intense spasms of pain can be triggered by a gentle touch or a breeze.

When a person has had chickenpox or been vaccinated with varicella vaccine, traces of the varicella-zoster virus remains in the body and sleep in the sensory nerves that control. Emotional stress and other conditions can cause the virus to wake up and move along the nerves of the skin. Once reactivated, the virus can cause nerve and skin disorder known as shingles.

Shingles and its symptoms

Shingles usually causes abnormal sensations in the affected parts of the body a few days before the onset of rash. The sensations are often described as a deep pain, burning, tingling "sensation, numbness, itching and extreme sensitivity of the skin to the touch. Earlier zoster infection, some people may experience symptoms similar to flu-like fever or muscle aches.

The rash usually appears on the skin at the nerve where the virus resides. The rash is often limited to the torso, but can appear on an arm or a leg. The face or neck may also be affected. Unlike chickenpox, where blisters all over the body, rash develops on one side of the body.

The rash begins as clusters of small red bumps that appear in waves over three to five days. They tend to form a path to the spine. The bumps soon form small blisters filled with fluid and surrounded with red skin. The bulbs are usually painful to the touch. Eventually, the blisters pop and ooze pus and fluids.

After approximately five days, the blisters dry up and form a scab. After they heal, scars may form or areas of the skin may become discolored.

In some cases, the pain persists for months or years, even after other shingles symptoms are gone. It is a known complication of shingles postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). The pain can be a deep constant pain or acute burning sensation. A light touch or temperature changes in the skin can cause intense pain.

Treatment of Shingles

Shingles is not a cure, but the pain and discomfort can be eliminated or reduced. Blisters and rashes can also be cured.

Antiviral medications are prescribed to reduce the duration of symptoms of shingles. These antiviral medications include acyclovir (Zovirex), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex). It is important to start on these drugs within 72 hours after the first symptoms of shingles seem to speed healing and minimize the possibility of developing complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia.

To manage the pain, the patient may take ibuprofen, naproxen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or narcotic analgesics such as codeine or oxycodone. Corticosteroids may also be used to control the itching, pain, redness and inflammation of the rash and blisters.