Dallas County Living Well Magazine Spring 2015 | Page 34
Shingles
S
hingles is a painful skin rash
caused by the varicella zoster
virus. Most commonly, the rash
develops as a strip of blisters
that wraps around either the left
or right side of your torso. Sometimes,
the shingles rash occurs around one eye
or on one side of the neck or face. It is
also called herpes zoster which is the same
group of viruses that cause cold sores and
genital herpes.
The shingles virus that also causes chickenpox can lie dormant in the nerve roots of the body after having chickenpox
for years. Most commonly, people who have weak immune
systems due to stress, injury, or certain medicines can trigger the virus to become active; but after the virus becomes
active again, it can only cause shingles, not chickenpox. It
is possible to get shingles again after having it once, but
that is not likely. You can’t catch shingles from someone else
who has shingles, but you can give chickenpox to a person
who has not had the chickenpox and/or hasn’t gotten the
chickenpox vaccine (mostly children).
Until your Shingles blisters scab over, you are contagious
and you should avoid physical contact with:
• Anyone who has a weak immune system
• Newborns
• Pregnant women
Signs and symptoms may include:
• Pain (usually the first symptom), burning, numbness
or tingling
• Sensitivity to touch
• A red rash that begins a few days after the pain
(some may never develop a rash, just pain along the
nerve line)
• Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
• Itching
See your doctor
See your physician promptly if you suspect Shingles. He or
she will prescribe antiviral drugs that can speed healing
and reduce your risk of complications. Antivirals include
Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, and Famvir. For the pain, the doctor may prescribe Capsaicin cream, gabapentin (Neuron-
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NORTH DALLAS Living Well Magazine | SPRING 2015
By Joan Weems, RN
tin), amitriptyline, numbing agents, such
as lidocaine, delivered via a cream, gel,
spray or skin patch, medications that contain narcotics, such as codeine or injections including corticosteroids, and local
anesthetics.
Complications
Complications from shingles can include:
Postherpetic neuralgia. For some people, shingles pain continues long after the
blisters have cleared. This condition occurs when damaged
nerve fibers send confused and exaggerated messages of
pain from your skin to your brain.
Vision loss. Shingles in or around an eye (ophthalmic
shingles) can cause painful eye infections that may result
in vision loss.
Neurological problems. Depending on which nerves
are affected, Shingles can cause an inflammation of the
brain (encephalitis), facial paralysis, or hearing or balance
problems.
Skin infections. If Shingles blisters aren’t properly treated, bacterial skin infections may develop.
Home remedies may include taking a cool bath, or using cool, wet compresses on your blisters may help relieve
the itching and pain. If possible, try to reduce the amount
of stress in your life.
Shingles generally lasts between two and six weeks. Most
people get shingles only once, but it is possible to get it two
or more times.
Prevention
Two vaccines may help prevent shingles:
The chickenpox (varicella) vaccine which is a routine vaccine given childhood immunization.
The Shingles vaccine--the varicella-zoster vaccine (Zostavax)
for adults age 50 and older. The Shingles vaccine doesn’t
guarantee that you won’t get Shingles. But this vaccine will
likely reduce the course and severity of the disease and
reduce your risk of postherpetic neuralgia. It’s not intended
to treat people who currently have the disease. The vaccine
contains live virus and should not be given to people who
have weakened immune systems.