Shingles (herpes zoster)

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Description

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection that affects the nerve roots. Is characterized by pain and eruptive emergence of bands spanning one side of the body. Shingles is a disease more common in adults and those with weakened immune system from stress, injury, certain medications or other factors.

The early symptoms include headache, light sensitivity and other symptoms similar to those of flu, in addition to fever. The person may experience itching, pain or ringing in the ears large area where the rash appears. A few days later, the rash appears in the band. This eruption as the band is sure sign of shingles. The rash caused by shingles causes more pain than itch. Skin sensitivity and ensure nerve roots going to each side of the body. When the virus reactivates, it goes along the nerve in the area of skin on which he serves as the band. Therefore the rash appears on one side, usually the chest or back and sometimes on the face around one eye. It may appear more lanes of eruption on the body.

Causes and Risk factors

Once a person has chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in nerve roots until, in some people, it is reactivated. When the virus becomes active, the person does instead of varicella zoster. Any person who has had chickenpox can have shingles. People with weakened immune systems are vulnerable to reactivation of the virus that causes shingles.

There are many factors that depress immunity illness, injury, old age. Some drugs slow down the immune system, for example, drugs that destroy cancer cells (chemotherapy). Exposure to shingles will not cause disease, but if a person has chickenpox and shingles is exposed to chicken pox can. A person with shingles can transmit chickenpox if it comes in contact with fluid from blisters rash. A study shows that the virus can be spread through the air and painful shingles blisters.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Treatment for Shingles involves antiviral medications pain medications, and occasionally steroids. Treatment is more effective the sooner it is started. ...