What is herpes zoster?

What is herpes zoster?

Shingles, herpes zoster or just zoster, is a viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Like other strains of herpes, the virus lays dormant in the body after the initial chickenpox infection (usually contracted during childhood) and is generally developed in adulthood. Shingles can be very painful and make you very sick, but fortunately is usually only seen once in a lifetime.

It is not known what causes the virus to wake up, but usually reduced efficiency of the immune system, which can be caused by a variety of reasons, is considered a contributing factor to the development of herpes zoster.

Symptoms of herpes zoster

Symptoms of herpes zoster have been described as "chicken pox on steroids." Usually affecting one side of the body, the victim will be a blowout, weeping blisters, itching, tingling and severe pain. The infection usually lasts two or three weeks.

Treatment of shingles

Treatment of shingles usually consists of analgesics and topical treatments for itching and tingling, and if it is diagnosed early enough, a tour of the prescription antiviral drugs may also be used to treat the disease, similar to that used by people with genital herpes (HSV types 1 and 2). Unlike other forms of herpes, however, outbreaks of herpes zoster rarely occur more than once in the life of the patient.

There is a vaccine available for shingles, treatment is generally available to seniors 60 years and older who have not previously had an outbreak of shingles people. Vaccination is estimated at about 50 percent effective in preventing the occurrence of an outbreak of shingles.

Other treatments that can be effective are the same as natural treatments for other strains of herpes, like Aloe Vera, Vitamin E oil, L-Lysine supplements and bathing in a hot salt bath to Epsom and water. Calamine lotion or other mixtures of scale used to treat chicken pox can also relieve pain and itching and help speed up the healing process.