User:Mr. Ibrahem/Shingles
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a localized area.[2][6] Typically the rash occurs in a single, wide stripe either on the left or right side of the body or face.[1] Two to four days before the rash occurs there may be tingling or local pain in the area.[1][7] Otherwise there are typically few symptoms though some may have fever or headache, or feel tired.[1][8] The rash usually heals within two to four weeks;[2] however, some people develop ongoing nerve pain which can last for months or years, a condition called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).[1] In those with poor immune function the rash may occur widely.[1] If the rash involves the eye, vision loss may occur.[2][9]
Shingles | |
---|---|
Other names | Zoster, herpes zoster, zona |
Herpes zoster blisters on the neck and shoulder | |
Specialty | Dermatology |
Symptoms | Painful rash occurring in a stripe[1] |
Complications | Postherpetic neuralgia[1] |
Duration | 2–4 weeks[2] |
Causes | Varicella zoster virus (VZV)[1] |
Risk factors | Old age, poor immune function, having had chickenpox before 18 months of age[1] |
Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms[3] |
Differential diagnosis | Herpes simplex, angina, insect bites[4] |
Prevention | Shingles vaccine[1] |
Medication | Aciclovir (if given early), pain medication[3] |
Frequency | 33% (at some point)[1] |
Deaths | 6,400 (with chickenpox)[5] |
Shingles is due to a reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) in a person's body.[1] The disease chickenpox is caused by the initial infection with VZV.[1] Once chickenpox has resolved, the virus may remain inactive in nerve cells.[1] When it reactivates, it travels from the nerve body to the endings in the skin, producing blisters.[7] Risk factors for reactivation include old age, poor immune function, and having had chickenpox before 18 months of age.[1] How the virus remains in the body or subsequently re-activates is not well understood.[1] Exposure to the virus in the blisters can cause chickenpox in someone who has not had it, but will not trigger shingles.[10] Diagnosis is typically based on a person's signs and symptoms.[3] Varicella zoster virus is not the same as herpes simplex virus; however, they belong to the same family of viruses.[11]
The shingles vaccine reduces the risk of shingles by 50% to 90%, depending on the vaccine used.[1][12] It also decreases rates of postherpetic neuralgia, and if shingles occurs, its severity.[1] If shingles develops, antiviral medications such as aciclovir can reduce the severity and duration of disease if started within 72 hours of the appearance of the rash.[3] Evidence does not show a significant effect of antivirals or steroids on rates of postherpetic neuralgia.[13][14] Paracetamol, NSAIDs, or opioids may be used to help with the acute pain.[3]
It is estimated that about a third of people develop shingles at some point in their life.[1] While more common among older people, children may also get the disease.[11] The number of new cases per year ranges from 1.2 to 3.4 per 1,000 person-years among healthy individuals to 3.9 to 11.8 per 1,000 person-years among those older than 65 years of age.[8] About half of those living to age 85 will have at least one attack, and less than 5% will have more than one attack.[1][15] The disease has been recognized since ancient times.[1]