Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash on one side of the body and is most commonly seen in adults over 50. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox and is highly contagious. Treatment may include antivirals and pain medication.
The shingles virus causes chickenpox, a common childhood disease characterized by itchy, red sores, fever, and pain. This virus is transmitted by skin contact and is highly contagious. It is quite common for one child to spread the herpes simplex virus to a whole class of other children, simply through skin contact.
Once the initial chickenpox infection has passed, the virus lies dormant in the body. The shingles virus is not the same as shingles simplex. They belong to the same virus family, but have different properties and spread by different methods. Herpes simplex is the virus responsible for cold sores.
Shingles is also known as shingles. This disease can occur in children, but is most commonly seen in adults over the age of 50. Shingles symptoms include a red rash on one side of the body, fever, and headache. Many people report burning, itching or tingling that is limited to a specific area and only on one side of the body.
The rash develops into a group of blisters, lasting at least three weeks. These blisters are clear at first and then turn yellow or bloody. A crusty crust develops and then the sores heal over the next two weeks. Shingles virus sores are quite painful and may require prescription pain medication to be managed properly.
The most common locations for this type of rash are the trunk and buttocks. If the rash appears near your eyes, see your doctor right away. This virus can cause permanent damage to your eyesight if left untreated. About 20% of adults who have had chickenpox will develop shingles. There is no clear list of triggers for the recurrence of this virus, but it is more common in people with compromised immune systems, high levels of stress, or other serious illnesses.
The virus is only contagious by direct contact with a ruptured bladder. Infants and people with reduced immunity have the highest risk. If the virus spreads, the newly infected person develops chickenpox, not shingles. It is not possible to have chickenpox twice, as the virus remains in the body.
Dermatologists or family doctors can diagnose the shingles virus through a visual inspection and a laboratory test of the fluid in a blister pack. Treatment for this infection may include oral antivirals or pain medications. Shingles rarely recurs and usually resolves within two to three weeks of the initial onset of symptoms.
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