What causes shingles has been studied and researched for some time now and the results of these studies are easily available today.
Shingles virus is responsible for causing the disease. The virus is called the herpes varicella-zoster and is a part of the herpes virus family. This group of viruses consists of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) that are responsible for developing cold sores, fever blisters, and genital herpes, and also the Epstein-Barr virus that causes infectious mononucleosis.
What causes shingles also causes chickenpox. Herpes Zoster is responsible for the condition of the chickenpox. In case of shingles, however it is more of the case of reinfection than first appearance as in chickenpox.
People who have suffered from chickenpox earlier in life are the risk-group for developing the disorder. Shingles causes for the virus to reactivate. First, right after you had chickenpox, Zoster lays inactive deep in your nerve roots. After some time it may boost back up again. This reactivation of the virus is what causes shingles.
The typical duration of the shingles episode is 2 to 4 weeks. First, a tingling sensation in the affected area is experienced, than pain and finally the rash.
Any part of the body, such as arms, legs, face and eyes may be affected, but chest and abdomen are the most common ones. There are a number of symptoms that are common for shingles. The most disturbing one is excruciating pain. Some experience a dull continuous pain; others describe it as burning sensation. Stabbing pains are also possible.
The symptom that is usually the second one to appear is the rash. It happens about two to three days after the pain occurs. The rash spreads on one side of the body and then settles on the area of the affected nerve. Typically the rash first appears in a shape of red blotches and then quickly evolves into itchy blisters. They look a lot like the chickenpox blisters. Typically they bloom for about a week, and then turn yellowish and dry out. In some cases, scarring of the skin has been documented.
Sometimes post herpetic neuralgia has been experienced by those suffering from shingles. Neuralgia is the severe nerve pain. In some cases, when the nerves were damaged, the pain lingered for a very long time for months or even years after other symptoms have disappeared.
There are also additional symptoms that are usually not as severe as the ones described above. They are: confusion, fatigue, fever, headache, memory loss, upset stomach, and abdominal pain.
There are several effective treatments that help to fight with the causes of shingles. They include painkillers, such as ibuprofen to relief the pain. If severe pain emerges antidepressants may be prescribed. The ones that are most commonly used are amitriptyline, imipramine, and nortriptyline.
If the patient suffers from seizures, anticonvulsants are used. However, these drugs can also be used to treat and control nerve pain.
Antivirals can help to stop the virus from reproducing, they, however, do not kill the virus completely. Antivirals can relieve the symptoms, especially if taken early, within 72 hours of the appearance of first rash.
Shingles virus is responsible for causing the disease. The virus is called the herpes varicella-zoster and is a part of the herpes virus family. This group of viruses consists of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) that are responsible for developing cold sores, fever blisters, and genital herpes, and also the Epstein-Barr virus that causes infectious mononucleosis.
The typical duration of the shingles episode is 2 to 4 weeks. First, a tingling sensation in the affected area is experienced, than pain and finally the rash.
Any part of the body, such as arms, legs, face and eyes may be affected, but chest and abdomen are the most common ones. There are a number of symptoms that are common for shingles. The most disturbing one is excruciating pain. Some experience a dull continuous pain; others describe it as burning sensation. Stabbing pains are also possible.
The symptom that is usually the second one to appear is the rash. It happens about two to three days after the pain occurs. The rash spreads on one side of the body and then settles on the area of the affected nerve. Typically the rash first appears in a shape of red blotches and then quickly evolves into itchy blisters. They look a lot like the chickenpox blisters. Typically they bloom for about a week, and then turn yellowish and dry out. In some cases, scarring of the skin has been documented.
Sometimes post herpetic neuralgia has been experienced by those suffering from shingles. Neuralgia is the severe nerve pain. In some cases, when the nerves were damaged, the pain lingered for a very long time for months or even years after other symptoms have disappeared.
There are also additional symptoms that are usually not as severe as the ones described above. They are: confusion, fatigue, fever, headache, memory loss, upset stomach, and abdominal pain.
There are several effective treatments that help to fight with the causes of shingles. They include painkillers, such as ibuprofen to relief the pain. If severe pain emerges antidepressants may be prescribed. The ones that are most commonly used are amitriptyline, imipramine, and nortriptyline.
If the patient suffers from seizures, anticonvulsants are used. However, these drugs can also be used to treat and control nerve pain.
Antivirals can help to stop the virus from reproducing, they, however, do not kill the virus completely. Antivirals can relieve the symptoms, especially if taken early, within 72 hours of the appearance of first rash.
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