Just my luck!

2009's present to me --- Shingles (Herpes Zoster). The Chinese call it 'sheng she' "生蛇" (growing a snake). Myth is the head of the 'snake' should not be allowed to travel to meet its tail otherwise the patient will die. It is however, untrue, but I do hope none of you ever get it! It is really TORTURING! :(

This is how the culprit looks like, disgusting right?

Anyhow, I have copied and pasted some info on it, and hope it will come in handy to those who might be unlucky enough to be infected by it. I am now recuperating with the help of antiviral medication and some pink ointment. I almost drank the ointment, I thought it was syrup medicine for my fever. Lmao


Reviewed by Dr Dan Rutherford, GP

What is shingles?
Shingles is a painful rash caused by the Varicella zoster virus (Herpes varicellae), which is the virus that causes chickenpox . Shingles occurs in people who have had chickenpox and is a reactivation of the dormant virus. Shingles often occurs many years after the initial chickenpox infection. Shingles is contagious and may itself cause chickenpox. However, contact with a person with shingles or chickenpox cannot cause shingles.

What causes shingles?
After the chickenpox virus has been contracted, it travels from the skin along the nerve paths to the roots of the nerves where it becomes inactive. The chickenpox virus then 'hibernates'. When the virus is reactivated, it travels via the nerve paths to the skin. It is not known what factors trigger a reactivation of the virus. Shingles generally affects the elderly, but occasionally occurs in children who have had chickenpox within the first year of their lives and in people with an immune deficiency.
Shingles can be a sign of immunodeficiency, caused by HIV or chemotherapy, for example, but most people who get shingles have a normal immune system.

What are the symptoms?

• The first sign that a reactivation of the chickenpox virus is taking place is a burning sensation on the nerve paths along which the virus is traveling. Nerve paths typically form half-circles around the body. The pain and subsequent rash correspond to the position of the nerve paths and are almost always on one side of the body or face only.
  
• The rash is typically accompanied by a fever and enlarged lymph nodes.
  
• Two to three days after the pain has begun, a typical rash appears: small blisters on red, swollen skin. It resembles the type that is seen during an attack of chickenpox but covers a smaller area.
  
• The rash usually reaches its peak after three to five days. Then, the blisters burst and turn into sores, which gradually scab over. The scabs fall off after two to three weeks.
  
• In some people, the area where the rash was located becomes extremely painful after the scabs have gone and can last from a few weeks to several months. This highly unpleasant after-effect of shingles is called postherpetic neuralgia.
  

How can it be prevented?
People who have never had chickenpox can reduce the risk of getting the virus by avoiding contact with people with chickenpox and shingles. Shingles itself is not preventable.

How is it diagnosed?
The patient's medical history in combination with the appearance of the rash will usually be sufficient for making a diagnosis. If necessary, a scrape from the blisters can help identify the virus. A blood sample can also be used to confirm the initial diagnosis.
What happens if it gets worse?

• The rash can become infected by bacteria.
  
• An attack of shingles near the eyes, or at the top of the nose can be associated with scarring on the cornea, affecting vision.
  
• Shingles on the face can, in rare cases, lead to a temporary hearing loss, facial paralysis and a reduced sense of taste.
  

Future prospects
Shingles is rarely serious. In about 90 per cent of patients, the attack normally subsides within a month after the appearance of the first symptoms. Most people only have one or two attacks.
Elderly people in particular may continue to feel intense pain, even after the attack seems to have subsided.

What can be done at home?

• Keep the rash uncovered.
  
• Try not to scratch. Use calamine lotion to ease the irritation.
  
• Use simple analgesics such as aspirin or paracetamol to relieve pain.
  

When should a doctor be consulted for more help?

• If the rash involves the eyes or the top of the nose.
  
• The sores have not healed after 10 days.
  
• The patient has a high temperature.
  
• The patient has another serious illness at the same time.
  

What is the treatment?
Although antiviral medicines such as aciclovir (Zovirax tablets/suspension) can be used, they must be started as soon as possible when the burning sensation begins. Once the rash has been present for more than 48 hours, treatment will be of reduced value. The medicine can reduce the duration of the attack and prevent it spreading. Antiviral treatment probably reduces the duration of postherpetic neuralgia.
The doctor may also have to treat additional complications, such as a bacterial infection. If simple analgesics have not been effective, the doctor may prescribe stronger pain-relieving treatment.

Based on a text by Dr Flemming Andersen