Chicken Pox' "Uglier" Brother

Shingles.... I am still laughing at myself for thinking this sounded like a fancy flavour of pringles. I mean it would taste nice right? See the name!

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However, shingles isn't something edible nor is it something you might wish to have. It is a health condition.

If you had chickenpox as a kid, there is a good chance you may develop shingles later in life. “In fact, one in three is predicted to get shingles during their lifetime,” says Dr. Anne Louise Oaklander, director of the Nerve Unit at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. source

What is shingles?

The word shingles simply refers to a very painful rash caused by an infection with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
I know; big word huh. Okay the varicella-zoster virus is one of the members of the herpes family of viruses. A typical shingle rash often leads to a swift diagnosis, there are some groups of tiny fluid-filled blisters or bubbles which are limited to a single patch of skin. A burning pain at the fore-front of the dinner, headache, fatigue or fever might proceed a typical shingles rash.

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The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) happens to be the same virus which brings about chickenpox. Any person who in earlier life (usually as a child) has had chickenpox could still have the virus hidden somewhere in the nerves just beneath the skin. After some years, it could erupt and come out onto the skin as shingles, yes shingles (the elder brother of chicken pox). Worthy of now is the point that the word shingles originated from a Latin cingulum, which meant belt, this the rash of shingles usually spreads around and over a patch of skin in a pattern which looks like a belt.

Shingles are quite common. According to the CDC,source almost one (1) in every three (3) person's would develop shingles throughout their lifetime, but the risk isn't random. Shingles also happens to be more prominent in persons above the age of fifty (50) and also those who somehow have a weak immune system.

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Shingles is contagious, yes very contagious. Someone who hasn't had any case of chickenpox in past times and hasn't been fully vaccinated against chickenpox could also stand a chance of developing chickenpox once such person comes in close contact with a person who has shingles.

The many complications of shingles.

The complications of shingles occurs in about one (1) to ten (10) person's who have shingles. but they include, but no limited to the following:

• Meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain)

• Bacterial and skin infection

• Eye infection and inflammation which, although rare, can lead to vision loss

• Ear inflammation and pain

• Postherpetic neuralgia (continued pain) in the area of the rash, even after the rash has disappeared

Preventing and treating shingles

It's very possible to prevent shingles, the shingles vaccine is currently what's recommended for person's above the age of fifty and above. However, those persons who have a weak immune systems shouldn't receive it because it might not be a hundred (100%) percent effective, but for those persons who happen to develop shingles, irrespective of the vaccine; they usually tend to have a slightly shorter time range for the rash and then a lower incidence of the complications especially postherpetic neuralgia.

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Additionally, if an adequate percentage of persons could receive the chickenpox vaccination, then the frequency of occurrence of shingles might just decline.

The treatment for shingles includesincludea the following:

• Antiviral medication: famciclovir, acyclovir or valacyclovir

• *Pain medications: tramadol, oxycodone or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication.

Shingles is a very prominent disease which might become less frequent due to the recently developed vaccinations. For a lot of persons, it is a painful but quite temporary issue when the complications begins to develop, it appears to be much more troublesome. You should visit your doctor to check on some vaccinations for shinglesa and chickenpox; once you notice any kind of unexplained rash, or perhaps you have come in contact with someone who has shingles.