Shingles

Introduction – Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. Shingles can only occur in people who have had chickenpox sometime in their life as it is caused by the reactivation of the original chickenpox virus which remains dormant in the system after the initial episode. Therefore, anyone who does not have the virus in their system cannot develop shingles.

It is estimated that more than a million Americans develop shingles each year, and yet very few of these people know much about shingles. This disease is most common in people over age 50, but can occur in anyone who has had chickenpox.

Shingles Contagion

Shingles is not contagious, and it is not possible for someone to develop shingles (reactivate their own chickenpox virus) by coming into contact with someone who has shingles. However, an outbreak of shingles may spread the chickenpox virus to anyone who has not already contracted chickenpox before. It is not common, though, since it can only be contracted through direct contact with the fluid from the shingles blisters. A person with shingles is no longer contagious (able to spread the chickenpox virus) when their blisters have dried out and scabbed over – usually after the first week of the outbreak.

About Shingles Symptoms

The first symptoms of shingles are often an itchy, tingling, or sharp pain just under the skin. This may be accompanied by:

• fever,
• chills,
• nausea, or
• headache.

A few days after these symptoms begin, a rash will appear, starting with reddened skin, then developing into small blisters. The rash most often occurs on the torso or face, and usually is confined to one side of the body (along the affected nerve). The blisters will fill with fluid, then dry out and scab over after a few days.

The level of discomfort caused by the rash varies from person to person, and can range from mild pain and itching to intense pain and skin sensitivity. The pain and the rash should go away in 4-5 weeks.

Shingles Complications

Although shingles can be very painful and more than a little uncomfortable, it rarely poses a serious medical threat to sufferers. However, there are a few conditions to be aware of, which have been known to develop as a result of shingles.

PHN or postherpetic neuralgia – This is when the pain of shingles continues long after other symptoms have taken their leave. The pain is usually worse than that suffered during the initial shingles outbreak, and has been known to continue for several years in some patients. Treatment involves prescription pain relievers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or steroids to control the pain. Methods such as TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) or nerve blocks may also be used in extreme cases.

Infection- If shingles is left untreated, it may become infected and spread to other areas of the body. If shingles develops on the face, it is very important to see a doctor, since the virus may spread to the eyes and cause serious damage, sometimes even blindness if left untreated.

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome - This condition may occur if a facial nerve is affected by shingles. Symptoms include dizziness, ear ache, loss of hearing, or loss of taste. Complications from this condition may include ear damage, facial paralysis, or inflammation of the brain called encephalitis.

Shingles Treatment

Shingles is treated with antiviral medications, ointments, and pain relievers. Sometimes, early treatment may limit the duration of the shingles outbreak, but does not always guarantee a quick recovery. To help prevent infection and other possible complications, it is important to keep the rash area clean and free of bacteria, and to wear loose clothing to prevent chafing and irritation. If the rash is particularly itchy, a cool compress or some soothing lotions or baths may be helpful.

Be sure to avoid over-cleaning the area, however, as it may only further irritate the rash. It is also a good idea to get enough rest and eat a healthy diet, as both will help your immune system fight off the infection.

Natural remedies such as Shingles No More from Forces of Nature have been proven highly effective, and is a safe way to combat shingles.

About Shingles Prevention

Shingles cannot yet be prevented. Scientists have not yet discovered the exact cause of and therefore have no way of predicting or preventing it. However, since it is caused by the chickenpox virus, it is believed that preventing, and perhaps eradicating chickenpox will be the end to shingles as well. Since the chickenpox vaccine was introduced in 1995, the number of shingles cases seems to have dropped somewhat. Since the vaccine contains the chickenpox virus, though, it is still capable of producing shingles later on. There is hope that the chickenpox virus will weaken over the next few generations and eventually die out, taking the shingles virus with it.

How Contagious Are Shingles?

Every year an estimated one million Americans are afflicted with the virus herpes zoster. Herpes zoster is a painful viral infection and is more widely known as shingles. Shingles is caused by the chicken pox virus. Shingles can develop in anyone who has ever had chicken pox.

It’s believed that more than 1 of every 10 people who have had chicken pox as children will develop shingles as adults. This type of shingles infection usually occurs in individuals over the age of 60. Once a person has had chicken pox, the chicken pox virus remains dormant or in an inactive state in nerve root cells of the body.
In some people, the virus “reactivates” within the nervous system to cause shingles. Shingles may include a blistering rash and severe burning pain, tingling or extreme sensitivity to the skin, and is most commonly reported to effect one side of the body and lasts about a month.

Varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox, causes shingles. This virus is in the herpes family. Shingles is also called herpes zoster.

An outbreak of shingles does not indicate a new infection; rather, it is the second outbreak of the chicken pox virus. Some of the virus that cause chicken pox remain in the body, in a dormant stage in the nerve cells near the spine for many years. Then the herpes zoster virus, for some reason, will suddenly emerge from the dormant state and grow. Once active, the virus travels along the nerve paths to the skin surface, leaving a path of destruction along the nerves they travel. The result is the pain and rash of shingles.

Anyone who has ever had chicken pox can get shingles. That means almost anyone over the age of 5 could be susceptible to getting shingles. A vaccine to prevent chicken pox became available years ago, so today’s preschoolers who were vaccinated will possibly not have to worry about getting shingles.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 10 to 20 percent of all Americans will have a bout of shingles at some time in their lives.

The varicella zoster virus that stays in the body after a case of chicken pox is usually kept inactive by the body’s natural immune system. As people get older, their immune system naturally weakens to some germs, including herpes zoster. Most people with shingles are 65 years or older. Typically, but not always, shingles occur in elderly people who are in some stressful situation. It is important to realize that just because a person develops shingles, does not indicate they are having difficulties or problems with their entire immune system. Shingles in the elderly is nearly as common as chicken pox in children.

It has been estimated that at least one-half of the population over the age of 80 will get shingles at some point in time. In addition to the elderly, other people with weakened immune systems who are at risk for developing shingles include people with HIV infection or AIDS, some patients with cancer; especially those receiving chemotherapy, transplant recipients, and people being treated with immunosuppressive drugs like corticosteroids.

Is shingles contagious? It is safe to realize that shingles is not contagious. Shingles occurs only when the existing virus in a person’s body becomes active. Personal contact with an infected person will not cause shingles. However, although shingles is not contagious, contact with a person with shingles could lead to chicken pox in someone who has never had chicken pox and has not received the varicella vaccine. It is recommended that children who have never had chicken pox or the vaccine remain distant from individuals with shingles, just to be on the safe side.