When you say the word “shingles”, most people think of the things on their roof. What a lot of people don’t know is that shingles is actually an illness, similar to the chicken pox. Unlike the chicken pox, shingles actually hurt. Since many people don’t know about this outbreak of what seems like a common childhood illness I am taking you through five important facts about shingles.
To start out, Shingles are caused by the same thing that the chicken pox are caused by; a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. After getting the virus, it normally stays in your nerves by your spine, until it becomes active again. Then you get a rash. A big difference between getting chicken pox, and getting shingles is that normally shingles symptoms form on one side of your body in a band. Chicken pox are normally spread all over. If you have had the chicken pox, then you are more likely to get shingles later in life. The statistics are that 1 in 10 people will get shingles in their lifetime.
Another fact is that shingles hurt. It is said to be the most difficult thing to deal with after contracting the illness. Also there are a lot of after effects. The most serious being Posttherpetic Neuralgia (PHN). PHN is a complication that is caused by the infection damages your nerves. Although it may hurt, and the rash isn’t the best either, there is a treatment. It is a short-term early treatment, all you need to do is get a prescription for an oral antiviral medication. After you finally get rid of the shingles, you will be happy to know that you most likely will never get them again. Most people who are healthy will develop an immunity to the virus that caused it all in the first place, the varicella zoster virus. I hope that after reading this you know a few more facts about the shingles illness. If you ever think you have it, or you are uncertain if it is chicken pox or the actual shingles then you should make an appointment and see your doctor. The treatment is for when you first get the shingles, so don’t put it off. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and good luck with your illness.
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April 1st, 2010 at 9:11 am
Thanks for the rundown on shingles. I am suffering from it at the moment but am under the doctor and taking medication (Aciclovir) which seems to be a crash course with 5 tablets taken every day (I am on my second day) but it is so painful. It is affecting my left hand and arm and the worst formation is on the inside edge of my left palm. It looks awful with lots of big clusters of blood blisters and is very very painful and no matter what pain killers I take it doesn’t help. My doctor suggests it will take 2 weeks to clear up and I just hope that when it does, it will go away forever. I certainly don’t want a recurrence.
December 7th, 2010 at 1:37 am
It just keeps hanging around. I had the main symtoms a month ago and now my hands and feet just itch like crazy. I wake OK then later in the day it all comes around again.