Herpes Zoster

Herpes Zoster: Herpes zoster is caused by Varicella Zoster virus. It is also known as shingles. A person who has herpes zoster feels pain or burning under the skin, fever, headache or chills. It affects men and women equally. It occurs only patient who have suffered from chickpox and with poor immunity. They occur on neck, eye, back, hips, torso, arms or face or one side of the body. It commonly occurs in adults or young person.

Causes of herpes zoster:

The main cause of herpes zoster is Varicella Zoster virus. Varicella Zoster is the type of herpes viruses. These viruses may be hidden in nerves and after infection it can develop herpes zoster. This disease is commonly found in people with weak immune system and old aged adults.

Risk factors:

You should avoid physical contact with following persons, it can be higher risk of getting herpes zoster:-

• Newborns baby
• Person who is affected with chickenpox
• Pregnant women who have infected
• Person with weak immune system

Signs and symptoms of herpes zoster:

• High fever
• Chills
• Burning, itching and pain in body
• Rashes in red color with blisters
• Headache
• Stomachache
• Tingling and small blisters that crust
• Loss of hair
• Abnormalities in tastes or vision
• Experience of malaise
• Lymph node swelling
• Abdominal and joint pain
• Genital lesions

Diagnosis of herpes zoster:

Health care providers may be diagnosed the herpes zoster by appearance of the skin lesions and history of shingles. Sometimes blood test and culture of skin lesion will be performed by the health care providers. Vericella antibodies can be measured by immunoglobulin.

Complications of herpes zoster:

• Deafness
• Facial paralysis
• Organ visceral lesions
• Blindness
• No taste

Treatment of herpes zoster:

Antiviral medications are very effective to reduce the pain. Antiviral medications such as famciclovir, penciclovir, desciclovir and valacyclovir may be used to treat this disease.

Sometimes corticosteroids such as prednisone may be prescribed by the doctor to reduce the risk of herpes zoster. Combination of corticosteroids and medications may help to reduce the pain and swelling.

Sometimes people with herpes zoster can be used cool compresses for few minutes to reduce the inflammation and pain. Lotions such as calamine lotion and starch baths or colloidal oatmeal bath may help to reduce pain and discomfort.

Patients should be keeping the skin clean and dry. Don’t rub his face with contaminated hands. Wash nondisposable items in boiled water.

Antihistamines will be recommended by the doctor to reduce itching and swelling. Zostrix cream may be used to the affected area to reduce the pain.

Preventions:

• You should keep the affected area dry and clean.
• You should avoid contact with infected person.
• Vaccine will be prescribed for adults and teenagers
• Use calamine lotion on the affected area to relieve itching and pain.
• You should take rest for a long period.
• You should take ant-inflammatory drug.
• You should take an OTC pain reliever such as Motrin, Advil.
• You should wash the affected area with mild soaps and water.