Herpes Zoster Or Shingles
Shingles is an infection caused by the VZV virus or varicella-zoster. This disease mainly affects the nerves that are located under the skin and is mainly manifested by inflammation and the appearance of rashes in the form of blisters. The irritation follows the entire nerve affected by the disease, and can be easily recognized.
The affected skin is red, with small blisters that follow the path of the nerve. Because the blisters cause pain that seems to burn the skin, and since St. Anthony the Abbot was once invoked for healing, in some parts of the world the disease is still known today as “Shingles”.
In most cases, this disease affects adults. However, it is not uncommon for adolescents to experience shingles, albeit mild ones. The most serious cases are often those that affect the elderly.
Herpes zoster: causes of the disease
The virus that causes shingles is the same as chickenpox. This is never eliminated from the body, but instead remains inside the organism in a latent state. When certain health conditions occur, the virus reactivates in the nerve ganglia.
Not all people who have had chickenpox develop shingles. Usually the virus reactivates in people with temporary or permanent changes in the immune system, due to age, other diseases or the administration of certain drugs such as corticosteroids, rheumatism drugs and others.
The people who are most likely to develop this disease are adults over the age of 50, as well as people who have weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV. It has been observed that even those who have had chickenpox before the first year of life can develop shingles.
All the symptoms
Pain is one of the most noticeable symptoms and can appear even before blisters are visible. This happens because the virus affects the nerves in the dermis. In most cases, blisters appear between 1 and 14 days after the first pain sensations. Pain intensity is subjective and can range from mild to very intense.
The first symptoms of shingles are:
- Itch.
- Itching.
- Tingling.
- Focal pain.
In addition, the following symptoms may occur during the initial phase:
- Temperature.
- Headache or general malaise.
- Gastrointestinal disorders.
The most recognizable symptom of shingles is definitely blisters. The eruptions are small at first, but they can grow and join together to form large bubbles. The growing period usually varies between 3 and 5 days. In the final stage of the disease, the blisters are replaced by scabs.
If the virus occurs on the head, it could also affect vision or hearing. Also, if it occurs in the mandibular nerve, it can cause injury to the mouth, tongue and throat. However, it is very unlikely that it leads to the loss of the sense of taste.
Diagnosis and complications
The diagnosis of shingles is made through the physical examination of the patient, obviously taking into account his clinical picture and his medical history.
If there is no certainty that it is herpes zoster, a sample of the tissue presenting the lesion is taken and a laboratory test is carried out to fully evaluate the case. Blood tests are also a reliable method of establishing the definitive diagnosis.
Lumbar puncture is used to diagnose the disease only in cases where the patient’s nervous system is compromised. In rare cases, the “Tzanck test” is used, a cytodiagnostic examination of the liquid taken from the blisters.
One of the most frequent and serious complications of the disease is “post herpetic neuralgia”. It occurs in 50% of patients and is a pain described by many as burning and unbearable, like an electric shock. In the most difficult cases, the pain can completely paralyze the individual. In addition, the painful sensation, as well as the itching, can last for weeks, months, years or even for a lifetime.
Other possible complications can arise when shingles localize near the eye. In these cases, the patient could develop vision problems, sometimes even very serious ones.
In other situations, the virus can also cause skin infections, cellulitis, or impetigo. There are also very rare cases, shingles can trigger a form of meningitis.
