Shingles is a disease caused by the virus Varicella Zoster. It presents itself as a painful blistering rash along skin areas of underlying superficial nerves (ex. along the rib margins). This is the same virus that causes chickenpox in childhood. People who have had chickenpox in their lifetime have a chance of developing shingles usually at an elderly age. It is not clear how this virus is reactivated in our body, but its reactivation has been associated with emotional stress and other stressful situations like immune deficiency, or cancer therapy. Usually, people that suffer from shingles are elderly (60 years or older).
The disease symptoms start as a painful or burning sensation on the skin over the affected areas that may persist for up to a week before the formation of blisters occurs. The blisters eventually pop and secrete their fluid content, resulting in crusting and healing. The healing process can take up to one month from the beginning of the disease process. Shingles is contagious for people who haven't had chickenpox in their lifetime, but they do not get shingles upon exposure. Instead, they develop chickenpox.
Antiviral therapy is mainly used in the treatment of shingles (ex. Famvir, Valtrex, Zovirax). Also, steroids may be used and analgesic medications in order to control pain. The use of cold compresses over affected areas may provide some relief as well as calamine lotion, and Domeboro solution which may help in drying out the blisters, but always consult with your physician first before trying anything. A vaccine for shingles named Zostavax is currently available for some adults age 60 and older that have had chickenpox previously and meet the criteria for its use. It has shown to decrease the incidence of shingles and post herpetic neuralgia in these patients. Shingles usually heal well without complications, but in some cases, the blisters may become infected and cause cellulitis in which antibiotic therapy may be necessary.
