Treatment And Prevention Of Shingles
Article by Kobi Aharon
Shingles is a skin disease. It is also called as Herpes Zoster. It is a viral disease caused by varicella zoster virus. This virus also causes chickenpox. When anyone gets chickenposx in the childhood, this virus remains in the dormant stage in the body in the nervous system. Under certain circumstances like stress, immuno deficiency disease, cancer etc, this virus gets reactivated and causes shingles. However, the exact cause of reactivation of varicella zoster virus is not known.
There is no exact treatment of Shingles Symptoms but some kind of treatment is essential as it shotens the period of sufferings & prevent complications. The mode of treatment are –
1. One can take antiviral medicines in order to reduce the duration & pain of shingles.2. Or, you can also opt for pain killers, antidepressants & topical creams to get rid of pain.
Initial mode of Treatment
The very first time a patient goes to the doctor with shingles disease, he starts the antiviral treatment. If the treatment is started at any early stage, the chances of complications is reuced to a greater extend. If this is not done, one can suffer with other diseases & make the life miserable after that for other also due to Shingles Contagious nature
Course of antiviral treatment includes -1. Firstly, the treatment is starts with medicines like acyclovir, famiciclovir or valacyclovir. This are the medicines which ar egiven to reduce the pain & duration of shingles.
2. In order to reduce the pain, some painkillers are also given like aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
3. Some topical antibiotics are also applied on the skin. This helps to prevent blisters formation.
Also, patients with less than 50 years of age having the attack at a recent attack of shingles are given corticosteroids treatment.
On Going Treatment Of Postherpectic Neuralgia
In some patients, after the shingles rash heals, some pain persists along the nerve root involved. This is called as postherpectic neuralgia. In this, one can suffer with pain for long may be for months or even for years. For this, the treatment includes antidepressents like tricyclic antidepressants or topical anesthetics like lidocaine patches. This is used to numb the area so the patient doesnot feel pain. Other treatment include opiods as codeine or, anticonvulsant medicines such as pregabalin or gabapentin.
Treatment When Complications OccurSome of the major complications of shingles with the treatments are as follows –
1. Disseminated Zoster – These are blistery rash over a portion of the body which affects the vital organs of the body like lungs, heart, joints, pancreas liver & intestinal tract. In such cases, treatment includes antiviral medicines.
2. Postherpetic neuralgia – This is the continous nerves pain after the healing of shingles rash. This is very severe & can last for weeks & months. For such cases medicines like anticonvulsants, antidepressants & opioids are given.
3. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus – This is the rash on the forehead & around eyes. This has very effect on the vision also. The treatment includes cool compression, rest & antiviral medicines.
Prevention Of ShinglesThis is not totally preventable but Zostavax vaccine can help to some extent. If the disease is treated in the 1st stage with antiviral medicines further infection is prevented.
About the Author
Kobi Aharon is a research scientist and doctor.
