Herpes zoster - Symptoms and treatment
 

Shingles (Herpes zoster) is the result of the repeated activation of the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster virus), which causes painful blisters on the skin of one side of the face or body. When a person is first infected with the virus, it results in varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox or varicella), which mainly occurs during childhood. Zoster results from reactivation of latent virus in people who have overcome the chickenpox. It manifests itself in the form of grouped blisters on the skin that extend longitudinally, following spinal nerve. The whole process can be followed by the increase of the lymph nodes that are located nearby.

It is a disease that occurs mainly in adults, and in children only in special circumstances. It occurs most often between the ages of 60 and 70 years. It usually occurs in people who suffer from chronic diseases, certain malignancies, and those with a weakened immune system.

The disease usually affects the area of torso, but can occur (rarely) on the face, neck and lower parts of the body. You may encounter some manifestations in the oral cavity, also limited to one half of the mouth or tongue.

This is an infection which typically starts with the symptoms of general feeling of weakness, which is accompanied by mild fever and tingling and pain on one side of the body. After several days, on the same part of the body, along the affected nerve, a rash and small, fluid filled blisters appear. They usually emerge on the chest, stomach, back, or face, or may even affect the neck, limbs or the lower back.

The affected area can be very painful, sensitive with the occurrence of itching. After a week or two, the blisters pass and create scabs, but the pain may continue. If intense pain lasts after the changes on the skin, it is a post-herpetic neuralgia. It can last for months, even years, especially in older people.

What are the symptoms?

Most common symptoms are mild fever, exhaustion, fatigue, burning sensation, tingling and itching on the body. The skin is red, you can see the blisters that are arranged in groups or long lines, and are filled with clear liquid.

The changes are usually localized on one side, although they can occur on both sides of the body (zoster duplex). Patients also experience intense, stabbing pain that may be constant or intermittent.

If the part in the trigeminal nerve area is affected, complications in the form of conjunctivitis and corneal damage (zoster ophthalmicus) are possible, while shingles in the area of the ear nerve can damage it.

Complications may cause partial or complete paralysis of the facial nerve. If the stomach is affected, pain can be extremely strong.

How is it treated?

Preparations of vitamin B complex (B1, B6 and B12) can help, and they need to be taken for about ten days.

If bacterial superinfection occurs on the skin, antibiotics are prescribed.

For pain relief, you can take analgesics. Visit the pain relief section in our pharmacy!

In case of zoster ophthalmicus (when the eye is affected), regular ophthalmological control is required.

In local treatment, virostatic ointments or creams (Zovirax) are applied.

Warning! Make sure that the diseased skin is always clean and dry. Do not scratch or pierce the blisters. Wear comfortable clothes made of natural materials.

Visit our online pharmacy and find the best therapy for you! Do not be worried about a prescription as there are our doctors who will take care about that part! All you need is just to choose to be healthy again!