Your Questions About Shingles

admin answers:

May want to try that new shingles vaccine.

Sorry can’t help with solving the underlying reason why this is occuring. Sounds like your immune system is out of whack. Maybe stress reduction and see a therapist.

HIV tested?

Age 60 because majority of case of shingles occur after the age of 60. In addition, the studies used to get FDA approval studied people 60 and over. Since you are get recurrent episodes of shingles, the vaccines would make good sense or at least worth a try. The only problem may be you insurance may not cover it.
In regards to nerd at hearts comment that the vaccine may not work could be true because your immune system may not mount a response to the vaccine and develop antibodies.

admin answers:

This can be related to the shingles. Although embarrassing your mom is the one to talk to because you have symptoms and you need to see a doctor who can properly diagnose you and treat you. Does it burn really bad when you pee? Are the sores open? Or are they like bubbled?
Do you have a lot of discharge?
Please please please talk to your mom, she may have a peek at it. Trust her. She loves you more than you know and your mom will make sure that the doctor does all that they can for you. Not all bumps down there are sexually contracted and the doctor will be able to get rid of them and your mom will believe you when you tell her that you are not sexually active. Moms are just like that and even though we are hard on our children at times, we really want them to trust us enough to let us in…. Even if our children are sexually active or have made a mistake. Your mom will be able to go with you and comfort you and let you know that everything is going to be okay. You allowing her and confiding in her will bring the two of you closer together and this can become a very strong bond between the two of you. Even if your mom questions you about sex just be honest with her. Your doctor will diagnose you and will be able to confirm this for your mom. Do not hesitate much longer, sweetie, you need medical attention.

Take Care!

admin answers:

Not unless the liquid from the blisters touch him he should be fine.

admin answers:

136 JOHN MURTAGH’S PATIENT EDUCATION, FIFTH EDITION © MCGRAW-HILL
Who gets herpes zoster?
Th is relatively common disease is unpredictable and a
person of any age can be aff ected. It is seen more oft en
in people over the age of 50; sometimes children will get
it during a chickenpox epidemic.
Is it contagious?
Yes, but only mildly. Rarely, children might acquire
chicken pox aft er contact with someone who has herpes
zoster, but it would be very unusual to ‘catch’ herpes
zoster from another person. It is spread when the person
comes into contact with the fl uid in the blisters.
Can the problem recur?
It is possible but most unlikely. One attack generally
protects you from a second attack and gives lifelong
immunity.
Myths about herpes zoster
It is not true that it is a dangerous disease or that the
patient will go insane. Another myth is that a person
will die if the rash spreads from both sides and meets
in the middle: this is nonsense.
For the majority, herpes zoster is a mild disease and
an excellent recovery can be expected.
What is the treatment?
Th ere is no cure for this viral infection, but you should
see a doctor without delay because proper treatment may
reduce the severity of the illness and the likelihood of
pain aft er the sores have healed. You should:
• Rest as much as possible.
• Take simple pain-killers, such as aspirin or paracetamol,
regularly.
• Avoid overtreating the rash, which may get infected.
Calamine lotion may be soothing, but removal of the
calamine crust can be painful. A drying lotion such
as menthol in fl exible collodion is better.
• Modern antiviral drugs are very eff ective, especially for
more severe cases, and are usually prescribed during
the fi rst 3 days from the onset of the rash.
What is post-herpetic neuralgia?
Th is is the condition of sharp burning or stabbing pain
in the nerve aft er the rash of shingles has disappeared.
It is more common in older people and in the nerves
on the face. It can persist for months but can be treated
with special medication.
What is herpes zoster?
Herpes zoster is an infection in a nerve by the virus that
causes chickenpox (varicella). Th e term comes from
the Greek herpes (to creep) and zoster (a belt or girdle).
Shingles is from the Latin cingere (to gird) or cingulum
(a belt). It results in a skin rash with blisters and pain.
How does it occur?
Contact with someone with chickenpox may cause it,
but usually it is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus
lying dormant (oft en for many years) in the root of a
nerve in the brain or spinal cord. Th e dormant virus
can be stirred into activity by stress or by the loss of
natural immunity as we get older. Th e virus multiplies
and spreads down the nerves, causing pain in the nerve
in which it resides.
Where does it occur?
Almost any part of the body can be involved, but common
sites are the right or left side of the chest or abdomen
and the face.
What are the symptoms?
Apart from feeling unwell, sometimes with a fever, the
main symptoms are pain and a rash.
Pain
• Th is can vary from mild to severe.
• It is burning in nature, but can be knife-like.
• It precedes the rash and lasts for 1 to 4 weeks aft er the
blisters disappear; it can persist for several weeks.
• It always improves in time.
Rash
Groups of blisters appear in the skin that is supplied
by the nerve. Th ey itch and become crusted. Th e rash
disappears aft er about 7 days but will leave scars or
discoloured skin.
Herpes zoster (shingles)
Herpes zoster
virus lives
in nerve root
virus spreads
down nerve
typical area
of rash

admin answers:

Strangles.