Herpes zoster, commonly known as Copper or Zone, is an infectious disease caused by the same chickenpox virus, which can reoccur during adulthood causing red blisters on the skin, which mainly appear in the chest or belly region, but also may be affecting the eyes or ears.
This disease affects only people who have had chickenpox, and it is more common to appear after the age of 60, and is treated with anti-viral drugs such as acyclovir and analgesics prescribed by the doctor to relieve pain and heal faster. wounds on the skin.
Symptoms of Herpes Zoster
The characteristic symptoms of shingles are usually:
- Blisters and redness that affect only one side body, as they accompany the location of any nerve in the body, traversing its length and forming a path of blisters and wounds through the chest, back or belly;
- Itching at the affected site;
- Pain, tingling or burning in the affected region;
- Low fever, between 37 and 38ºC.
The diagnosis of shingles is usually made based on the clinical evaluation of the signs and symptoms of the patient, and the observation of the lesions on the skin by the doctor. Other diseases that have symptoms similar to those of shingles are impetigo, contact dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis and also with herpes simplex, and therefore the diagnosis should always be made by the doctor.
Photos of herpes zoster
Herpes Zoster is contagious?
Shingles is a contagious disease for people who have never had chicken pox or who have not been vaccinated since they are diseases caused by the same virus. Thus, children or other people who have never had chicken pox should stay away from people with herpes zoster and not have contact with their clothes, bedding and towels, for example.
People who have had chicken pox when in contact with a person with herpes zoster are protected and do not usually develop the disease.
Can Herpes Zoster Return?
Shingles can recur at any time, in people who have ever had chickenpox or even herpes zoster in their lives, because the virus remains 'latent', that is, inactive in the body for many years. Thus, when there is a decrease in immunity the virus can replicate again causing shingles. Strengthening the immune system can be a good prevention strategy.
Treatment to cure Herpes Zoster
Treatment for shingles is done by taking anti-viral medicines like Aciclovir, Fanciclovir or Valaciclovir to decrease virus multiplication, thereby reducing blisters, duration and disease severity. It may also be necessary to use analgesics to relieve pain caused by blisters. Your doctor may prescribe:
- Aciclovir 800 mg: 5 times a day for 7 to 10 days
- Fanciclovir 500 mg: 3 times a day for 7 days
- Valacyclovir 1000 mg: 3 times a day for 7 days
However, the choice of the medicine and its use may be different, being at the medical discretion this prescription.
Home Herpes Zoster Treatment
A good home treatment to supplement the treatment indicated by the doctor is to strengthen the immune system by drinking echinacea tea and consuming foods rich in lysine, such as fish daily. See more nutritionist tips:
During treatment you should also take care of:
- Wash the affected area daily with warm water and neutral soap without scrubbing, drying well to prevent bacteria from developing on the skin;
- Wear comfortable, tight clothing and cotton to allow the skin to breathe;
- Put a cold pack of chamomile on the affected area to relieve the itching;
- Do not apply ointments or creams over the blisters, preventing the skin from becoming irritated.
It is important to remember that to be most effective, treatment should be started up to 72 hours after the appearance of blisters on the skin.
Possible Complications
The most common complication of shingles is post-herpetic neuralgia, which is the continuation of pain for several weeks or months after the disappearance of the blisters on the skin. This complication is more frequent in people over 60 and is characterized by a more intense pain than in the period when the wounds are active, leaving the person unable to continue their normal activities.
Another less common complication occurs when the virus hits the eye, causing inflammation in the cornea and vision problems, needing to be followed up by an ophthalmologist.
Other more rare problems that shingles can cause, depending on the affected site, are pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness or inflammation in the brain, for example. Only in rare cases, usually in very old people, over 80, and with the immune system very weakened, in case of AIDS, leukemia or cancer treatment, this disease can lead to death.
Herpes Zoster Vaccine
The herpes zoster vaccine is the only effective way to prevent this disease and its complications. The vaccine is recommended for adults over 60 years, but it is not offered by the SUS and its price is about 400 reais.
Ideally, this vaccine should be recommended by your doctor as it is not recommended for pregnant women and people who take corticosteroids or who already have a weakened immune system.
Who has the highest risk of having?
Shingles only occurs in people who have ever had chicken pox in their lifetime. This is because the chicken pox virus can be lodged in the nerves of the body throughout life, and in some period of immunity, it can reactivate in the most localized form of the nerve.
People who are at highest risk for developing shingles are those with:
- Over 60 years;
- Diseases that weaken the immune system, such as AIDS or lupus;
- Treatment of chemotherapy;
- Prolonged use of corticosteroids.
However, shingles can also occur in adults who are over stressed or who are recovering from some illness, such as severe flu or dengue because the immune system is weaker.
