Description shingles
Herpes zoster – shingles or painful viral disease. Most of those who have had chickenpox disease, certainly remembers how the “pupínkovou disease” touchingly said goodbye, because chickenpox has yet, every once in a lifetime. But that virus –varicella – chickenpox that causes the vow that he will not return several times, only partly respects. Persists quietly in nerve cells(DRG) and will come to the complaint, coat dresses and returns.In the form of shingles.
The impetus for the reactivation of the virus is usually weakened immunity (which should be after suffering varicella sufficiently strong and trained varicella virus), it is common during cytostatic treatment, for HIV positive patients, patients Hodginovou disease.
The trigger mechanism is also often a shock, stress, trauma, or nutritional disorder.
Shingles is therefore the second round of chickenpox disease. After the cure of this disease is a virus already on the scene refunded. It follows the rule twice and therefore enough.
A basic feature of the disease is confined in a blistering band-bearings. This is actually the outward manifestation of nerve inflammation.
The incubation period is from 7 to 14 days (for varicella 13-14). The period of infectivity is about 1-2 days before the first symptoms and up to five days after the appearance of blisters (after drying).
Risk factors for shingles
The main risk factor for this disease is impaired immunity. This condition occurs for many reasons (various diseases, exhausting mental conditions or drastic treatments ..). Reduced immunity is typical for the elderly. Risk factor for developing shingles, it is also the age (which is confirmed by the fact that more frequent occurrence is recorded among people over 60 years).
Prevention of shingles
Diseases in principle can not be totally prevented. However, to do everything we can to minimizethe risk of its development (and along with it the risk of many other diseases). Indeed assistance can only strengthen the overall defenses. This consists in reducing fatigue, stress, the reception quality of a balanced diet, frequent stay in the fresh air, hardening.
Increasing immunity they can also help many natural products. Eg. Echinacea drops, buckthornsyrup, an extract from the kernels of red grapefruit, important is the intake of vitamin C (more fresh fruits and vegetables than from dietary supplements).
Herpes zoster disease is not communicable. Therefore there is no need for the prevention of avoiding contact with the patient. For this rule, there are two exceptions. First, for people that have so far not had chickenpox, there is a risk of contact with sick herpes zoster this disease (chickenpox), because in that case it is the first contact of the body with varicella, which was at the premiere in the body manifests ( as already mentioned) varicella. The second exception, which should avoid shingles patients, pregnant women (although it is more dangerous to the fetus maternal chickenpox disease).
When the transmission of the virus varicella (which can cause transmission only chickenpox) play a role blisters – is very infectious fluid contained therein. It should therefore ill from contact with a person who has not had chickenpox, blisters covered with sterile, and thus isolate.
Signs and symptoms of herpes zoster
The first main symptom is pain – burning, prickling, stress at the point where about 2 days begin to appear red spots, which gradually protrude at their center and begins to appear clear liquid. Blebis formed, the liquid within it gradually yellows and Kali, pimples dries, changing the scab that flakes off.
Places where are most often the chest, shoulders, face, around the eyes .. Shingles may develop almost anywhere on the body.
Sowing appears in stripes (as dermatomes – areas innervated by one spinal segment). These strips blisters on the chest and shoulders spread from the spine to the axis connecting the navel to the breastbone. Normally sowing sided.
And skin lesions, the disease can manifest itself in overall schváceností, malaise, weakness, indigestion, temperature occurs sometimes (fever in this disease is not uncommon).
Also common is swelling of the local lymph nodes.
Treatment of shingles
Treatment of shingles should begin as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms (preferably within 3 days). Not occur if complications, treatment lasts 5-7 days.
Symptomatic treatment (treat symptoms of the disease, not its cause). Combine usually inflammatory, analgesic (painkiller) and virostatic agents.
Antivirals are served in either tablets or infusion (intravenously). Antivirals are most commonly used with active ingredient acyclovir (Zovirax, Herpesin, Provirsan), another option is substance valaciclovir (Valtrex)
Antibiotics are the treatment of shingles served only in elderly or debilitated people as prevention of secondary bacterial infection, which would in such a patient might uncomfortably complicate treatment.
Sometimes it is recommended to increase the intake of vitamin B (although the efficacy of vitamins to the treatment of shingles has not been established with certainty).
How can I help myself
In the treatment of shingles, it is appropriate to accelerate the drying blistering applications, eg.Liquid powder and vice versa dries and crusts when separating the affected area to macerate softening ointments with antiseptics or antibiotics.
For uncomplicated course of treatment is recommended to dry and warm and there are many supplements that can treat at more or less help. These are eg .:
- L-Lysine – promote healing
- Vironal – Has antiviral effects
- Echinacea – increases immunity
- Evening primrose oil and vitamin E – a beneficial effect on the healing of skin
Suitable example is hitch. Brewer’s yeast (vitamin B), garlic (natural antiseptic)
Complications of shingles
Common complications are lingering neuralgia (pain break down) even after healing and disappearance of visible skin manifestations.
Further, particularly in HIV-positive cancer patients, diabetics, patients leukemia … occurring complications deterioration to generalized state, which means that blisters occur throughout the body. These complications can sometimes serve contrary to the diagnosis of disease (if they appear shingles in a generalized form, include the usual doctor, what to do with the patient’s reason – why so many poor immunity? ..).
As complications can also be impaired eyes (if the shingles hit the first branch of the trigeminal nerve that extends in the eye). And occur as complications in the form of impairment of internal organs (stomach, heart, lungs, ..).
Other names: herpes zoster
