What is Shingles?

Exact match keyword: “Shingles cream”What is shingles? Shingles in children is often called chicken pox. Shingles in adults is most commonly known as herpes zoster. This disease occurs when the varicella-zoster virus, a strain of the herpes virus, causes a major nerve in the body to react abnormally. The result is pain in the infected area.

Some symptoms of shingles are similar to those of other flu-type illnesses including the common cold or the flu. But because shingles is a herpes infection, it poses special risks and requires special treatment. Because of these risks, you should visit your doctor immediately if you experience one or more of these symptoms for longer than a week: pain or burning around the infected area, fever greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, tiredness, swollen glands, headaches, muscle or joint pain, loss of appetite, muscle weakness or fatigue, irritability, and difficulty breathing. If at any time these symptoms are present, you should see your doctor promptly, even if the episode seems like the beginning stages of a cold. Your doctor can perform tests to determine the exact cause of this outbreak, which may be an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the treatment you are using.

Most people develop shingles within a week of being exposed to a virus that contains the varicella-zoster virus. Risk factors for shingles vary according to the virus that causes it. People who have a greater risk of developing shingles are those who have a previous family history of this condition or who are immune compromised. In pregnant women, shingles can also occur, presenting an additional concern. It’s crucial for pregnant women and new mothers to avoid getting this condition as much as possible, considering the unique risks it poses during and after pregnancy.

If you experience blisters, sores, or a painful skin that feels like an electrical shock, you may be suffering from internal shingles. These types of symptoms tend to last for three weeks and can be treated with creams or ointments. If you have internal shingles, your doctor may test you for herpes or ask you to abstain from sex until after one year of protection. If you do not abstain, you will pass the infection back and forth between you and your partner. Genital herpes outbreaks are much less common and usually occur in elderly women. Genital herpes outbreaks tend to last for about seven weeks and are marked by a number of symptoms, including fever, chills, swollen glands, painful urination, burning sensations, and soreness.

Shingles causes are caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which remains dormant in the nerves and tissues. It is similar to chicken pox in its ability to affect the nervous system. When someone is exposed to the virus, the nerve cells die in large numbers. It is very rare for shingles to be transmitted by touching an affected area, but they can develop in elderly individuals who have a weak immune system or in individuals who smoke, have HIV, or have a weak immune system combined with exposure to other diseases.

A person can have an active infection without ever knowing it, such as with colds and the flu. This type of infection can cause serious problems if left untreated, as it can weaken the immune system enough to make it more susceptible to other infections. If you have an active infection without realizing it, you should contact your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. In most cases, treatment can be successful.

Shingles, though caused by a herpes virus, is different from chicken pox in its appearance and in its symptoms. The symptoms are very similar to those of chicken pox: fever, painful red rash developed on one side of your body, and fatigue. However, you may also experience nausea, vomiting, and muscle aches. The herpes simplex virus cannot actually enter the nerve tissue, so there is no pain with shingles.

Shingles will usually start out as a tiny red rash that gradually becomes larger over the next few days. The blisters will become filled with pus-filled blisters that may also become crusted and hardened. They will typically appear on one side of your body and rarely on both sides. The blisters will probably stay contagious for about 10 days before fading away. However, they could spread and become active immediately after you become infected if you do not seek treatment.

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