Joseph asks…
Is Shingles considered a disease?
This may sound a bit silly and disgusting, but I was just diagnosed with shingles by my doctor. She said it doesn’t go away, because the virus lives inside of my body. I’ve had chickenpox before, when I was about 3, so I knew it was more likely I could get shingles, but I didn’t think this early in life (I’m only 15).
I want some more information on this “disease“, if it’s considered one. It hurts a lot, and my doctor said I will be in pain for quiet some time. How long should I wait until I can go outside, and to public places?
Any information will help! Thank you so much in advanced!
admin answers:
Shingles is categorized as an infection, not a disease. More like a virus. Its caused by another virus that is also responsible for chicken pox. So, when u got chicken pox as a child, the virus was dormant in the tissue in your spinal cord and around your brain and reactivated later as what u have now, shingles. It is contagious especially to people who have not had chicken pox. Best bet as to when you can go outside to public places? Check around on the internet for the different stages of the shigles and determine when itd be best for you.
Robert asks…
What are shingles? (not the roofing kind, the disease)?
My sisters friend came over to spend the night and she had 4 or 5 large bumps on her back and complained that they itched. She went to the doctor today and my sister called me and said her friend had Shingles….what are they? The last time I heard about Shingles was on Oregon Trail in elem school! (along with polio, etc)
How do you get Shingles? Is it contagious? I’m really worried that my sister shouldn’t stay there overnight because I don’t want her to catch it too….
How do you cure it?
admin answers:
Shingles are contagious. They come from the same virus as the chicken pox. There’s really not much you can do to cure it, the doctor probably gave her some medication for the itching and/or pain, and told her to avoid any unnecessary contact with people. I’m not sure if you can get them after having chicken pox or not so I can’t even tell you that your sister would be fine as long as she’s had the chicken pox. Whether she stays over night or not is your decision, I’m not sure I’d let my sister/brother stay. Hope this helps. 🙂
Helen asks…
what are shingles the disease?
admin answers:
Shingles are an adult form of Chicken Pox. They are more severe and not easily treatable. In some cases in the elderly it can be fatal.
Sandra asks…
shingles the disease?
this is an infection which hits the nervous system. want more info
admin answers:
I just explained this to a patient today so this should be easy 🙂
Basically Shingles (Herpes zoster) can occur in anyone who has had chickenpox in the past. After having chickenpox, the virus causing this condition does not die off completely…it moves into ganglions which are part of the nervous system and remains dormant there. It can remain there, dormant and not causing any symptoms forever, or for many many years.
However sometimes, especially after emotional stress or after a drop in the immune system (recent illness, aging, etc), the virus gets activated again. When its reactivated the virus spreads along the peripheral nerves corresponding to the ganglion in which it was dormant and gives rise to intense pain and blisters in the dermatome (an area of the skin) that is supplied by that nerve. You will notice that the blisters never cross the midline of the body because they only affect one nerve.
The virus commonly affects the nerves of the torso and back but they also effect the face less commonly (here they are more dangerous because they can affect an opthalmic nerve and cause problems with vision) or any another nerve in the body essentially.
Usually there are some symptoms before the blisters…pain or itching at the area, fever, feeling bad in general like a bad cold is coming up. It can be treated with antiviral drugs but these are only useful if given very early on in the condition. We usually give them in the first 24 hrs after the rash starts but they are usually tried up to 72hrs. The later you start them, the less effective they are.
Otherwise treatment involves analgesia for the pain. The pain and rash will go away on their on in 3-5weeks. Unfortunately there is no way as yet to remove the virus completely from the body so the virus will just go dormant again, with the possibility of reactivation again.
There is a very unfortunate associated condition where even when the rash passes, the patient is left with pain in the area. This happens more often if the patient is elderly and can be difficult to treat although there are drugs available.
Lastly, unlike chickenpox shingles is not contagious although little kids who have not had chickenpox or the vaccine as yet should not be exposed to the patient because of the possibility of getting chickenpox.
Hope I was of some help 🙂 I wish you or your relative a quick and complete recovery.
Lizzie asks…
Is Behcet’s disease related to shingles?
Also, can it affect menstruation in women?
admin answers:
Behcet’s disease is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes a constellation of different symptoms, including vasculitis, arthritis, bowel inflammation, meningitis, cranial nerve palsies, memory loss, impaired speech, memory loss impaired balance, and blisters and ulcerations in the mouth, eyes and genitals. Behcet’s disease may progress to blindness, stroke, central nervous system impairment, spinal cord swelling, and intestinal complications. Behcet’s disease is thought to have a viral connection, as it is known to occur in patients with chronic hepatitis C and other viral conditions.
Read more at Suite101: Behcet’s disease: Symptoms and Treatment in Behcet’s disease http://autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/article.cfm/behcet_s_disease#ixzz0fwk2539j
Genital ulcers
In females, these lesions commonly appear in the labial folds but can also be found in the vulva and vagina.
In males, they are usually scrotal in nature but can also develop in the perianal region and penile shaft.
Genital ulcers last longer than oral lesions, are deeper, and typically scar after healing.
Ulcerations in women may correlate with menstruation
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/329099-overview
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