Shingles neuropathy and typical symptoms

Sometimes tiny blisters appear on the skin that cause burning, pain, and intense itching. It can be caused by a disease caused by the chickenpox virus. Let's learn about the disease with this strange name - shingles, through the article below by Dr. Nguyen Van Huan.

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1. What is shingles?

Shingles is an infection caused by a virus called varicella-zoster. This is also the virus that causes chickenpox . After you recover from chickenpox, the virus can stay in your nervous system for years before becoming active again.

This type of infection is characterized by a painful and burning red rash. Shingles usually presents as a band of tiny raised blisters on one side of the body. Especially in the upper body, neck and face.

Most cases will clear up on their own within 3 weeks. Shingles rarely occurs more than once per person, but there are sometimes exceptions.

Shingles neuropathy and typical symptoms

Symptoms of shingles

2. Symptoms of shingles

The usual initial symptoms of shingles are itching, pain, and burning. The pain usually occurs on one side of the body and occurs in small bands. Followed by red spots. Symptoms of a red rash include:

  • A red rash appears on the skin.
  • Tiny blisters form bands on the skin.
  • Rash localized to the spine and upper body.
  • Rash on face and ears.
  • Itching.

Blisters are one of the typical manifestations of shingles, but blisters are also a manifestation of other diseases . Find out now to get the right treatment!

Some people with shingles have other symptoms, including:

  • Fever.
  • Chills.
  • Headache.
  • Tired.
  • Muscle weakness.

Some of these symptoms are rare and especially serious:

  • Pain or redness of the eye area, need immediate treatment to avoid permanent eye damage.
  • Hearing loss or severe pain in one ear, dizziness, or loss of taste. This may be a typical sign of Ramsay Hunt symptoms .

Shingles, also known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, if not treated promptly, can lead to facial paralysis and hearing loss. Find out now!

Shingles neuropathy and typical symptoms

  • Infection can occur when the skin becomes red, swollen, and hot to the touch

3. Who is susceptible to this disease?

Shingles can occur in anyone who has had chickenpox. However, there are a few factors that can increase your risk, including:

  • Patients over 60 years old.
  • Have diseases or syndromes that weaken the immune system, such as HIV, AIDS, or cancer.
  • Are receiving radiation or chemotherapy.
  • Taking medications that weaken the immune system, such as steroids or drugs used after organ transplant surgery.

4. How to treat shingles?

When you have shingles, absolutely do not scratch to avoid infection and not to leave scars later. There is no cure for shingles, but prompt treatment with antiviral drugs can speed wound healing and reduce the risk of complications. These drugs include:

  • Acyclovir (Zovirax).
  • Valacyclovir (Valtrex).

Shingles can cause severe pain, so your doctor may additionally prescribe:

  • Capsaicin topical patch (Qutenza).
  • Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin .
  • Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline.
  • Numbing medications, such as lidocaine, come as a cream, gel, spray, or skin patch.
  • Pain relievers, such as codeine.
  • Injections include corticosteroids and local anesthetics.

5. Non-drug treatments

Home treatments can also help ease your symptoms, including:

  • Rested.
  • Apply cold, cool compresses to the rash to relieve pain and itching.
  • Apply a lotion containing calamine to relieve itching.
  • Take an oatmeal bath to relieve pain and itching.

Shingles usually clears up within a few weeks and rarely comes back. If your symptoms do not improve within 10 days, you should call your doctor for follow-up and reevaluation.

6. Is the disease contagious?

A person with shingles can pass the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who is not immune to chickenpox. This usually happens through direct contact with the sore.

Once infected, the person will get chickenpox, not shingles. Chickenpox can be dangerous for some people. Until the blisters form a scab, you should avoid contact with people who have not had chickenpox or have not been vaccinated against chickenpox, especially people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and infants.

7. How to prevent shingles

Vaccines can help slow the development of severe shingles symptoms or complications from shingles. All children should get two doses of chickenpox vaccine. Adults who have never had chickenpox should also be vaccinated. Getting vaccinated doesn't mean you won't get chickenpox, but 9 out of 10 people who get vaccinated will avoid it.

Adults 50 years of age and older should get the shingles vaccine. There are two vaccines available, Zostavax (live zoster vaccine) and Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine). Note that even if you've had Zostavax in the past, you should still get another Shingrix shot.

Shingles is a contagious disease. If you are infected, you need to prevent the spread by:

  • Avoid breaking the blisters.
  • Avoid contact with people who have never had chickenpox before or who are immunocompromised.
  • Wash your hands often.

8. Foods to eat when you have shingles

Good foods you should add every day when you have shingles include:

Shingles neuropathy and typical symptoms

Foods to eat when you have shingles

The following foods should be avoided when sick:

  • Fat: high-fat foods only make inflammation worse and prolong healing
  • Avoid nuts, soy products, chocolate, oats, wheat germ, coconut, white flour
  • Cereals: they raise blood sugar, increase the risk of infection and take longer to heal
  • Alcohol: alcohol weakens the immune system, making the virus attack and spread faster

Shingles is a contagious, highly contagious disease. Adults who have not had or been vaccinated against chickenpox should receive the chickenpox vaccine to prevent the disease. Shingles can clear up on its own within 2-3 weeks. However, during treatment, the patient needs to take some necessary measures to avoid infecting others.


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