What you need to know about shingles

By Joan Weems, RN

Shingles 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 (Neurontin), 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:

  1. The chickenpox (varicella) vaccine which is a routine vaccine given childhood immunization.
  2. 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.

Victory Home Health and Hospice plus Medical Equipment can assist you with all your healthcare needs. We can help you in your home to teach your medications, assess your heart and lungs, ensure your safety needs, assist with bathing, and provide a physical therapist to assist with exercise regime. We welcome your call at 888-815-78922. A nurse will be glad to assist you with any questions or concerns you might have.