Shingles Symptoms » Shingles Contagious Stage
Shingles Disease and Cures
Believe it or not, that same virus that caused you to have the chicken pox, the herpes zoster virus, can actually rare it’s head again and cause you to have an outbreak of shingles. If you have had chicken pox in your life or you have had the vaccine for it, then you have this virus in your body. At any time this virus could come back to life in the form of shingles, which is a very uncomfortable and painful type of rash. Unfortunately, one out of five people who have the herpes zoster virus will eventually come down with shingles as well. As someone who has suffered from shingles repeatedly, I know how painful this disease can be. I also know how mysterious this disease can be for someone who has never experienced or seen it before.
So, what actually causes the outbreak of shingles? Well, there is really no pat answer that anyone has found yet. No one is quite sure what causes this virus to come back again in the form of shingles; however, there are a few possibilities that seem to attribute to the problem. Stress at times seems to be an underlying factor as well as extreme fatigue. People with immune system problems or cancer also seem to be more susceptible to this as well. Those who are going through radiation are more prone to develop shingles too.Shingles actually comes in two different stages. The first stage is called the prodromal stage and the second is called the eruptive stage. These stages tend to have symptoms that are a bit different, so it is important that you know the symptoms of each stage:
Prodromal Stage - This stage actually occurs between 2-5 days before the actual shingles rash appears. There are a variety of flu like symptoms that may be experienced, such as chills, fever, nausea, headaches, itching on one side of your body, and tingling or burning on only one side of the body.
Eruptive Stage - The eruptive stage is when the actual rash begins to appear. One the side of the body where you have pain swelling and redness develops as well as blister like formations. These blisters look a great deal like the chicken pox blisters; however, they can be extremely painful as well as very itchy. It can take up to 14 days before the blisters begin to scab over and up to 3-4 weeks before the rash is totally gone. It is important to note that these blisters almost always only occur on one side of your body. You can get them on one side of your torso, face, leg, arm, buttocks, or waist.
Usually shingles is a disease that will run its’ course and then get better; however it is still best to seek medical attention when you have shingles. There are medications that can be given to you that can help you get better much faster. Also, there are complications that can occur with shingles that you want to avoid. Neurological problems can occur, you can get skin infections, and if the rash is close to your eye your cornea can even become infected as well, which could lead to blindness.
One of the most commonly used treatments is the use of anti-viral medications. There are a variety of different anti viral medications that doctors may prescribe for you if you have herpes. Some of them include acyclovir, Valtrex, or Famvir. Usually these drugs work the best if you start taking them within 24-48 hours after you first see the start of the rash appear. Corticosteroids are also used to help treat shingles. They often help to reduce the swelling that goes along with shingles and can also help to reduce the pain you feel as well. For very severe cases of shingles where the pain is extremely severe, doctors often will prescribe some painkillers as well. Capsaicin is a topical treatment that may be used to help treat the rash and pain topically. Lidocaine patches may also be used on areas of skin that have been badly affected. In some cases anticonvulsants and antidepressants are also used in the treatment of shingles too.
If you are given medication to take while you have shingles, it is important that you take it as directed and make sure that you take all of it. Even if you begin to feel a bit better, you still need to take all the prescribed medication. In the event that it seems the medications are not helping you and the pain and itching is getting out of control, be sure to get in touch with your doctor again as soon as possible. While taking the prescribed medications is important when you have shingles, there are also some self care things you can do from home to make yourself more comfortable. The first thing to remember is to never scratch the blisters. This can cause scarring and put you at risk for a skin infection as well. Taking a simple antihistamine, such as Benadryl, can help you deal with the itching.
If you have blisters that are weeping, then you can place some wet cool compresses on them throughout the day; however, stop these compresses when the blisters have dried up. Be sure that you also keep the affected area very clean. You can wash it gently with soap and water, and also avoid wearing any clothing that will rub against it and irritate it further. Avoid being around any people who have not ever had chicken pox, especially babies or women who are pregnant.
An someone who has suffered from Shingles several times, Juan Gutierrez is determined to provide as much information about Shingles as possible to those suffering from its symptoms. For more information natural shingles treatments, please visit http://shingles.disease.googlepages.com
Source: www.a1articles.com