Shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.
While the disease is not life-threatening, it can cause a painful rash anywhere on your body and usually appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around one side of the torso.
Almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles at some point, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Of an estimated 1 million U.S. cases of shingles each year, about half of them occur in people 60 years of age or older. In fact, half of people who live to age 85 develop shingles.
Most people who receive treatment soon after shingles blisters appear will experience relief from pain and heal from the lesions within 3 to 5 weeks. Additionally, the blisters often leave no scars.
Varicella-zoster is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses, which includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes.
However, the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles is not the same virus that causes cold sores or genital herpes, the herpes simplex 1 and 2 viruses.
Anyone whos had chickenpox can get shingles, including children.
After youve been infected with chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain.
If the virus reactivates, it can travel along nerve pathways to your skin, and cause shingles.
Most people who get shingles will not develop it again, but some people may have it a second or third time.
The risk of shingles increases as you age, which may be due to lowered immunity to infections as you grow older.
People with a greater risk of getting shingles include:
Shingles cannot be passed between people, but the varicella-zoster virus can spread to people who arent immune to chickenpox those who have not been vaccinated against chickenpox or have not had the disease.
The varicella-zoster virus usually spreads from person to person through direct contact with the open sores of the shingles rash when blisters are present. Once infected, the person will develop chickenpox, not shingles.
If the rash is covered, the risk of a person with shingles spreading the virus to others is low.
However, chickenpox can be dangerous for some groups of people, including newborns, pregnant women, and anyone who has a weakened immune system.
So until your shingles blisters turn into scabs, you are contagious and should avoid contact with any susceptible people. The following can help keep you from spreading the virus:
While its rare for pregnant women to develop shingles, if they do, most experts agree that its unlikely to cause harm to the fetus.
However, pregnant women who have never had chickenpox could experience complications, with 10 to 20 percent of those infected developing varicella pneumonia, a condition that can be fatal in up to 40 percent of people who develop it, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
If a pregnant woman gets chickenpox during the first half of her pregnancy, theres a 0.4 to 2 percent risk for birth defects or miscarriage. If she gets chickenpox during the second half of her pregnancy, the baby may get the infection without having any symptoms, and then get shingles later in life.
Pregnant women who have been exposed to the virus may be given varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG) injection to reduce their risk of complications.
Additionally, newborns whose mothers develop varicella rash from 5 days before to 2 days after delivery should receive preventive treatment with VZIG to avoid neonatal varicella, which is associated with mortality as high as 30 percent.
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While shingles is not life-threatening, it can cause a painful rash anywhere on your body.
Shingles usually appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around one side of your torso, or in some cases on one side of your face, neck, or around one eye.
People with weakened immune systems may develop a rash all over their bodies that resembles chickenpox. The shingles rash forms blisters that tend to scab over in 7 to 10 days and clear up within 3 to 5 weeks.
Pain is usually the first sign of shingles, which can arise anywhere from 1 to 5 days before the rash develops, yet some people experience the shingles pain, but never develop the rash.
The pain can be mild for some and intense for others. In some instances, the pain may even be mistaken for a symptom of a disease that affects the heart, lungs, or kidneys.
Other symptoms of shingles can include the following:
Shingles can cause the following complications:
Skin infections: Bacterial skin infections can develop if shingles blisters arent treated effectively.
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN): In some instances, people who have had shingles may experience postherpetic neuralgia, a condition that occurs when damaged nerve fibers send confused and exaggerated messages of pain from your skin to your brain.
When this happens, people have severe pain in the areas where they had the shingles rash for up to a few months after the blisters have cleared. However, some people may have the pain for years.
PHN can occur in up to a third of untreated people who are 60 years of age and older; it rarely occurs in those under 40 years old.
Vision loss: Shingles in or around the eye, called ophthalmic shingles, can cause painful eye infections. If left untreated, the infection can lead to permanent vision problems, and in very rare cases, blindness.
Neurological issues: When certain nerves are affected, shingles can cause an inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), facial paralysis, or hearing or balance problems (vertigo).
In extremely rare cases, shingles can also lead to pneumonia and death.
If you suspect you may have shingles, contact your physician immediately, especially if any of the following relates to you:
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While theres no cure for shingles, getting immediate treatment can help speed the healing process and reduce your risk of complications.
Most people who receive treatment soon after shingles blisters appear will experience relief from pain and also heal from the lesions within 3 to 5 weeks.
Additionally, the blisters often leave no scars.
To help diminish the length and severity of shingles, your physician may prescribe an antiviral drug, such as the following.
In order to be effective, you should take antiviral drugs as soon as the shingles rash appears.
These drugs may also help prevent postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a painful condition that occurs when damaged nerve fibers send confused and exaggerated messages of pain from your skin to your brain.
When this happens, people have severe pain in the areas where they had the shingles rash for up to a few months after the blisters have gone away.
Steroids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants including pregabalin (Lyrica) and gabapentin (Neurontin), and topical agents are also used to treat PHN.
To manage the pain caused by shingles, your doctor may prescribe one of the following:
Taking cool baths with colloidal oatmeal, or applying calamine lotion or cool, wet compresses to shingles blisters, may help relieve the itching and pain.
Getting vaccinated is the only way to reduce the risk of developing shingles and lessen its effects, such as PHN, before you get shingles.
In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a VZV vaccine (Zostavax) for use in people 50 years and older.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people aged 60 years and older get one dose of shingles vaccine.
Still, some doctors may find the Zostavax vaccine suitable for certain people ages 50 to 59. Ask your healthcare provider if the vaccine is a good option for you.
Researchers found that giving older adults the VZV vaccine cut the expected number of later cases of shingles in half.
Additionally, the severity and complications of shingles were dramatically reduced in people who still got shingles despite being immunized.
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Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com
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