Treatment of Shingles
Best hospitals and doctors for shingles treatment abroad
Leading hospitals
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Shingles is a common skin condition that is caused by the zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. The most common manifestation of shingles is a rash and stabbing pain on only one side of the body. A tingling sensation will be felt on the skin before the rash appears. In some cases, the shingles sufferer may also develop a fever and will generally feel tired. The rash often causes blistering on the torso and face. After a while, the fluid filled blisters start to dry and eventually disappear.
Also known as zoster herpes, shingles is more common among the elderly (50% of all cases), since they have a weaker immune system. Although there is a vaccine against the zoster virus and therefore the development of shingles, one million people are diagnosed with shingles every year in the USA alone (MedicineNet). As much as one in three people will be affected by this condition during their lifetime. In most cases, people only develop shingles once in a lifetime. Rarely, shingles can develop twice.
- Rash
- Stabbing pain
- Tingling sensation before the onset of a rash
- Burning sensation on the skin
- Itching
- Fever in some cases
- Fatigue
- During a general examination, the doctor will examine the patient’s skin and ask how severe the itching sensation is. The doctor will also establish whether the patient has a fever or not.
- The patient will be asked whether they had chickenpox as a child and whether they have had any other infections lately that could have weakened the immune system.
- A blood test can determine whether the patient has caught the zoster virus or not.
- Conservative treatment with antiviral medications aims to shorten the period of infection and precipitate the recovery time. To be really effective, these need to be taken within the first 72 hours of the first appearance of the rash.
- Pain medication may also be prescribed in some cases.
- Corticosteroids are prescribed in more severe or recurrent cases.
Authors: Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko