Important Information About Herpes-Zoster

If you find yourself suffering from severe pain and blisters on your face or body, then you just might have the shingles. What are the shingles? As funny-sounding as that name is, shingles is just another name for herpes zoster, a sickness that will affect at least one million Americans every year.

What Exactly Is Herpes-Zoster?

Varicella-zoster virus, the very same virus which also causes chicken pox, is the main cause of herpes zoster. After having and recovering from chicken pox, this varicella-zoster virus will remain dormant or inactive in the body, particularly in the ganglia, which is located within the nerve tissues.

Who May Suffer From Herpes-Zoster?

Only individuals who have had the chicken pox can acquire herpes zoster. Individuals who are fifty years of age or older are more likely to experience a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus causing them to experience the shingles. People having weakened immune systems are also more likely to develop a case of the shingles. Approximately twenty percent of those who have suffered from the chicken pox will also suffer from the shingles.

What Happens To A Person Suffering From Herpes-Zoster?

The effect of herpes-zoster on the skin is mainly a painful outbreak of a rash, or blisters on a person?s body or face. Ironically, people who suffer from herpes-zoster can possibly transmit the disease to others who never had the chicken pox, but they cannot transmit the disease to people who have had the chicken pox.

What Causes Herpes-Zoster?

Although scientists have yet to uncover what causes the varicella-zoster virus to become active and spread among a person?s nerves, it has been discovered that illness, trauma, or stress usually trigger the activation of previously dormant varicella-zoster virus, causing a person to suffer from the shingles.

What Are The Symptoms Of Herpes-Zoster?

The earliest and most common symptom of the shingles is pain that is usually felt one to three days prior to the appearance of the rash or blisters. The pain is also specific to a particular nerve, meaning it is usually only felt in a particular part of the body.

The type of pain experienced as a result of shingles is a shooting or burning pain that also involves some itching and tingling. The severity of the pain will vary, but may become so excruciating that it will require pain medication. More often, however, the pain is not so severe.

A number of days after the pain began, a rash will begin to appear, sometimes accompanied by a headache. After a few more days the rash will turn into blisters. These blisters will remain for at most two weeks. They will usually appear on the abdomen, buttocks, back, chest, and may also show up on the face, legs, and arms. Usually no scarring is left after the blisters and rash have disappeared.

What Are The Complications Caused By Shingles?

The shingles, or herpes-zoster, although seemingly harmless up to this point, can actually cause severe complications. It may affect one?s vision and hearing, particularly if the virus affects the cornea. This may happen if rashes and blisters begin to appear on the face. A person suffering from the shingles may suffer temporary, or even permanent blindness as a result of the virus. It may also cause inflammation of some brain cells and temporary paralysis of the face.

The blisters caused by herpes-zoster may also become infected. Should this happen, you should get a prescription from your doctor for some antibiotics. It is therefore important to maintain good hygiene and to prevent yourself from scratching your blisters. Doing so will only prolong the healing.

Carl DiNello is an Article Author whose articles are featured on websites covering the Internets most popular topics.

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