Shingles

Shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus. The varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox. After you get chickenpox, the virus remains inactive in certain nerves in the body. Shingles occurs after the virus becomes active again in the nerves years later. Shingles may develop in any age group but you are more likely to develop shingles if you are older than sixty, you had chickenpox before the age of 1, or you have a weakened immune system. The first symptom is usually one-sided pain, or burning. The pain may be severe and usually present before any rash appears. Red patches on the skin are followed by small blisters that break and form small ulcers. The rash usually involves a narrow area from the spine around to the stomach area and chest. The rash may also spread to the face, eyes, mouth and ears. Other symptoms include chills, fever, headache, weight loss, joint pain, swollen glands, abdominal pain, and similar symptoms.

Shingles usually disappears on its own. Treatment is only used to relieve pain. Such treatment includes and antiviral medicine that will fight the virus, and reduce pain. Other medication may include antihistamines, pain medicine, and zostrix (cream used to prevent postherpetic neuralgia).