What is Shingles also known as herpes zoster?
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, gets its name from both Latin and French words for belt, or girdle, and refers to girdle-like skin eruptions on the trunk. Anyone who's had chicken pox can develop this eruption. The reason is that the same virus that causes chicken pox causes zoster.
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection that causes an outbreak of a painful rash or blisters on the skin.
A reactivation of the chickenpox virus in the body, causing a painful rash.
Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. It isn't known what reactivates the virus.
What causes Shingles?
It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. The rash most often appears as a band of rashes or blisters in one area of the body.
Varicella is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The infectious particles are cell-free virus particles derived from skin lesions or the respiratory tract. Transmission occurs mainly through respiratory droplets that contain the virus, making the disease highly contagious even before the rash appears.
Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes varicella. Primary infection with VZV causes varicella. Once the illness resolves, the virus remains latent in the dorsal root ganglia.
Risk factors associated to Shingles.
- Being 50 or over. With age, there is a natural decline in cell-mediated immunity
- Infection from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- A chronic medical condition
- Medication that suppresses the immune system
- Having an organ transplant
How to prevent Shingles?
The most effective prevention against shingles is vaccination. The Shingrix vaccine is currently available and recommended for all healthy adults age 50 and over and the Zostavax vaccine is approved for people who are age 60 and older.
How to manage shingles.
Treatments include pain relief and antiviral medication such as aciclovir or valaciclovir. A chickenpox vaccine in childhood or a shingles vaccine as an adult can minimise the risk of developing shingles.
Important to know!
Several antiviral medicines acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are available to treat shingles and shorten the length and severity of the illness. These medicines are most effective if you start taking them as soon as possible after the rash appears.
Best analgesic to use.
Medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen are often used. More severe cases might call for use of Tylenol with codeine or oxycodone.
Mortality rate.
Shingles causes fewer than 100 deaths annually. Almost all shingles deaths are in elderly or people with compromised immune system.
Chickenpox
A highly contagious viral infection causing an itchy, blister-like rash on the skin.
Chickenpox is highly contagious to those who haven't had the disease or been vaccinated against it.
What causes Chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It can cause an itchy, blister-like rash. The rash first appears on the chest, back, and face, and then spreads over the entire body, causing between 250 and 500 itchy blisters.
Interesting I think, chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus but the difference being the manifestation.
Symptoms
- Fever.
- Loss of appetite.
- Headache.
- Tiredness and a general feeling of being unwell (malaise)
Chickenpox
A highly contagious viral infection causing an itchy, blister-like rash on the skin.
Chickenpox is highly contagious to those who haven't had the disease or been vaccinated against it.
Who is at risk of acquiring chickenpox?
Risk factors which increase the likelihood of contracting chickenpox include, people without a history of chickenpox in the past, individuals who are not immunized against chickenpox, newborns, especially those born prematurely (less than 1 month or born to mothers who never contracted chickenpox prior to pregnancy), immunocompromised individuals, cancer patients and the use of immunosuppressant drugs.
Prevention of Chickenpox
The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine. Everyone—including children, adolescents, and adults—should get two doses of chickenpox vaccine if they have never had chickenpox or were never vaccinated. Chickenpox vaccine is very safe and effective at preventing the disease.
Management of chickenpox
Treating Chickenpox is similar to Shingles, best treated early than later.
There are antiviral medications licensed for treatment of chickenpox. The medication works best if it is given as early as possible, preferably within the first 24 hours after the rash starts. For more information, see Acyclovir Treatment.
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