Shingles: Blisters and rashes might be more dangerous than you think What is Shingles? Shingles is a type of infection that takes place in the nerve of an individual or at the surface of skin supplied by the nerve. Both adults and children might likely trap into the problem of shingles after he or she recovers from the problem of chickenpox. Shingles Virus Shingles take place in human beings from the virus called Varicella Zoster i.e. the same virus results in the problem of chickenpox. After a person recovers from the disease of chickenpox, the virus remains present in his body but in dormant condition within the central nervous system. Varicella Zoster virus categorizes itself as herpes virus, because of which medical experts call shingles as herpes zoster. All types of herpes viruses remain in hidden condition within the nervous system in almost indefinite manner. Thus, when viruses get right conditions, herpes zoster virus reactivates or wakes up from its hibernate state and travel down towards the fibers of a patient’s nerve to create many new active infections.
Is Shingles Contagious? Individuals, who never suffered from the disease of chickenpox or never received vaccination to prevent chickenpox, usually remain susceptible towards viral infection of shingles. However, the positive thing is that rash of shingles is not infectious, as a rash from a particular person fails to spread in another one. In this way, the disease is not contagious directly. In fact, shingles pass viruses from their active blisters of rash directly to other people, who then suffer infection with varicella zoster virus if the individual does not possess adequate immune towards VZV virus and develop the problem of chickenpox, while chickenpox infection may result in shingles in few people later during their lives. Based on this fact, doctors consider shingles as indirectly contagious.
Shingles Symptoms Burning, consistent dullness, gnawing pain or sharpness and stabbing pain are the most common symptoms associated with the problem of shingles. Also, it has two other common symptoms as blistering rash and tender skin. Shingles Treatment Until now, doctors have failed to identify any way associated with the elimination of shingles virus from the human body. However, they have recommended taking several important measures to ease existing symptoms. ● Keep body rashes in dry condition and clean them to reduce every risk related to infection ● Opt to wear loose fitting clothes to stay comfort for long time ● Strictly avoid rubbing on with antibiotic creams or any other similar type of adhesive dressing, as it reduces the entire healing process. Instead, you should use non-adherent type of dressing to cover rashes and prevent aggravation of your skin. ● Apply calamine lotion to get relieve and soothe your itching problem
● Use antihistamines in some cases to prevent itching problem during nighttime Doctors recommend for painkillers to soothe the severe pain that takes place from shingles. In few cases, they may prescribe for antiviral treatment that helps in preventing multiplication of the virus and reduction in severity. How Long Do Shingles Last? In most of the cases, problem of shingles last for about 3 weeks to 5 weeks by following a specific pattern. ● Firstly, patients suffer from tingling or burning pain, while in some cases, it involves itching or numbness on a particular side of human body. ● During 1 to 5 days, patients will find red rash in their bodies after the burning or tingling feelings, while after few days, rash will convert into blisters filled with fluid. ● Furthermore, about 10 days later, you will find drying up of blisters and formation of crust over it. ● Lastly, scabs formed on the body of patients clear up in couple of weeks.