Shingles or otherwise known as Herpes Zoster is a viral disease which is normally portrayed by excruciating skin rash with blister in a partial area on one side of the body. This is caused by reactivation of varicella-zoster virus which resulted into a skin rash. The virus that causes shingles is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Therefore, to have shingles, a patient must first experience chickenpox. After this infection, this virus remains at a sleeping stage in our nervous system. Years after the chickenpox infection, this virus will reawaken to cause infection of the skin creating a painful rash. Rashes will usually heal 2 – 4 weeks but others will still feel lingering nerve pain for months or years.
No one knows the exact reason as to why this varicella-zoster virus becomes reactivated to create shingles. However there are some medical experts believe that stress, fatigue, a weak immune system, cancer, and HIV/AIDS are the reasons why these viruses resurface.
Patients will first experience severe pain in a broad band on one part of the body as this virus resurfaces. They would feel an itching, tingling, burning, and constant aching sensation. Other symptoms include fever, chills, and headache. Three days after experiencing the pain, a rash that looks like a blister will erupt and they are pus filled. Twelve days after, scabs will form. Scarring may result as the scabs fell off three weeks after the first symptoms. Once this rash occurs, please seek medical help to prevent further infection. Anti-viral medication for this bacterium will only take effect 24 – 72 hours after the rash develops. If this rash with blisters will develop on your nose or near your eyes, immediately go to your medical doctor before the virus spreads out for it may cause eye damage or loss of vision. Secondly, if you have a medical condition that decreases your immune systems’ capability to fight off infection inform your physician right away to avoid complications. For severe swelling and pain, corticosteroids may be used.
Once you have shingles, do not scratch or else it might amplify the risk of secondary bacterial infection. Ask your doctor for a prescription of any creams that will help relieve itchiness. Secondly, place a cool tap water compress to your blisters to help soothe and dry the blisters. This reduces bacterial infection. Once the blisters have dried, tap water compress must be stopped to prevent the surrounding skin from becoming too dry and itchy. Bear in mind that the pus of these blisters contains the varicella-zoster virus therefore they are highly contagious. Thirdly, always keep the infected area clean. To aid its healing you can also apply petroleum jelly. Fourth, avoid wearing tight clothes. This will add extra pain if your clothes are rubbed against the rash. Fifth, do not approach a person who had not yet experience chicken pox or who has a low immune system. You might transfer the bacterium to that person. Sixth, contaminated clothing and bed sheets must be washed and clean to prevent further spreading of the virus.
