A Guide To Understand Signs And Symptoms Of Shingles
A sort of skin disease is known as Shingles.It is also addressed as Herpes Zoster.The cause for Shingles is a virus Varicella Zoster Virus.This leads to chicken pox in Kids.The child has the virus stationed in the spine nerve cells due to the attack of VZ virus leading to chicken pox.The virus remains inactive in the body after the patient is treated for chicken pox as well.It causes no damage till it erupts again.The VZ virus leads to Shingles when it gets activated due to any of the factors such as stress, fever and any bouts of infection.
Shingles commonly starts with the symptoms like increased sensitivity of the skin along with burning, tingling or tickling pain.This may be accompanied with the numbness of the affected area.It can be caused in any area such as like abdomen, neck, back, arm or leg.Next symptom after the pain, is development of tender lymph nodes.There may be many accompanying symptoms like diarrhoea, fever with chills, nausea, stomachache etc.Subsequent to this in about 3-5 days one will have red rashes that get transformed into blisters.These blisters form a cluster, usually involving a single nerve path or sometimes a group of nerves.
In the beginning the blisters are filled with only fluid and later in about 3-5 days they become overcast.Slowly, the blisters erupt leading to formation of crusting and then finally healing starts.The whole course of the disease can take around 3-4 weeks.
There can be severe pain in the total nerve after the disease is cured also.This state is called Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN).This is a very excruciating situation for the patient.The total cure happens after some days, weeks or even months.
One has finding of Shingles with the help of the indications felt.One feels that is shingles when there is abrasion on the skin.The proper diagnosis is done through the laboratory diagnosis from the scrapings of the blisters or from swab of the lesion.
A pain killer is given as treatment for shingles.Also certain antivirals like valacyclovir, acyclovir, famiciclovir etc also given.These medicines reduces the pain and rash.The treatment in this is only to lower the duration of suffering and relieving the pain.Sometimes, if the itching is very much, some lotions like calamine lotion is also prescribed.
Even the natural remedies do provide beneficial to get relief from the signs of the disease.The usage of Apple cider vinegar gives relief.These is applied on the affected area which reduces pain and rash both.Another is use of mixture of aloe vera gel and cayenne pepper.This can give instant relief to the pain.It is suggested to take Vitamin C to boost ones immunity.Hence one has to take sufficient quantity of Vitamin C.On a daily basis there should be consumption of about 2000 to 4000 mg.Then, MSM is also very good in case of shingles disease.It should also be consumed.
Find out what are the shingles symptoms how can be shingles contagious.