Some of the clearest memories people have of childhood involve bouts with infectious illnesses-measles, mumps, chicken pox. One of these infections--chicken pox--may reappear in a different form during adulthood and cause havoc for a second time. Shingles (herpes zoster) is a skin disorder triggered by the chicken pox virus that you first encountered as a child. (The adult form does not appear to be contagious, but infants and people whose immunity is low should not be exposed to it.)
The risk of getting shingles increases with age, with most cases developing in people over the age of 50. The risk of developing shingles is also higher in those whose infection-fighting system is below par or who have cancer.
Symptoms of shingles include:
- Pain, itching, or tingling sensation (before the rash appears)
- A rash of painful red blisters, which later crust over. Most often, the rash appears on the torso or side of the face, and sometimes affects the eye. (Invariably, only one side of the face or body is affected.)
- Though rare, fever and general weakness sometimes occur.
- After the crusts fall off (usually within three weeks), pain can persist in the area of the rash. While no treatment exists for this pain other than analgesics, it usually disappears on its own after one to six months.
The following steps may relieve an active outbreak of shingles.
- If possible keep sores open to the air. Don't bandage them or wear restrictive clothing, unless you live with or are around children or adults who have not yet had or been immunized for chicken pox.
- Wash blisters, but never scrub them.
- Apply cool compresses, calamine lotion, or baking soda to alleviate the symptoms.
Shingles require medical attention, especially if an eye is affected. Your doctor may prescribe an analgesic to reduce pain or an antibiotic if the blisters become infected. You may also need other medications, like antihistamines, antiviral drugs, or possibly steroids.
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