Shingles photos
Shingles , colloquially known as shingles, shingles or St. Anthony’s shingles , is a viral infection that causes a skin rash that can be very painful and is caused by the varicella -zoster virus .
The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the virus responsible for producing chickenpox. When the chickenpox stage has ended, the virus remains inactive in the nervous system (latent virus), in 10 to 20% of cases. The virus reactivates at some point in a person’s life, causing herpes zoster disease.
Shingles can occur anywhere on your body, but most often appears as a band of blisters that wraps around the left or right side of your torso.
Hearing the word “herpes” can be a little confusing for people. Herpes zoster (also called shingles) is not a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and cannot cause genital herpes. Shingles also does not cause cold sores. Both genital herpes and cold sores are caused by a different virus called the herpes simplex virus.
As we explained above, the virus that causes shingles and chickenpox is called varicella-zoster virus.
For more information on the sexually transmitted infection called genital herpes visit the following article: Genital Herpes Pictures
Symptoms of shingles
Pain is often the first symptom of shingles. For some, it can be very intense. Depending on the location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for a symptom of problems affecting the heart, lungs, or kidneys.
Some people experience pain without developing the rash.
Signs and symptoms of herpes zoster or shingles usually affect only a small section of one side of your body. These signs and symptoms may include:
- Pain, burning, numbness or tingling
- Sensitivity to touch
- A red rash that begins a few days after the pain
- Fluid-filled blisters that break open and form crusts
- Itch
Other symptoms include fever, headache, chills, stomach upset, muscle weakness, skin infection, scarring, and decreased or loss of vision or hearing.
Shingles Treatment
There is no cure for shingles since it is not possible to eliminate the virus from the body, early treatment with antiviral medications can help shorten the duration of the blisters and limit the intense pain. Shingles symptoms can often be treated at home.
Prevention
The shingles vaccine is safe and effective and is available to help prevent shingles. Getting vaccinated is the best way to reduce your chance of developing shingles or reduce your chances of lasting pain if you get shingles.
Shingles vaccination is recommended for all healthy adults age 50 and older, and for adults age 19 and older who have weakened immune systems.
You should not get vaccinated if:
- They currently have shingles
- He is sick or has a fever
- Had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of the shingles vaccine
