SHINGLES

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Although shingles can occur anywhere on your body, it most often appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or the right side of your torso.

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you've had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles.

While it isn't a life-threatening condition, shingles can be very painful. Vaccines can help reduce the risk of shingles, while early treatment can help shorten a shingles infection and lessen the chance of complications.

If you have shingles, you are contagious until the last blister has scabbed over. This will usually occur after about 10 to 14 days.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of shingles usually affect only a small section of one side of your body. These signs and symptoms may include:

·         Pain, burning, numbness or tingling

·         Sensitivity to touch

·         A red rash that begins a few days after the pain

·         Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over

·         Itching

Some people also experience:

·         Fever

·         Headache

·         Sensitivity to light

·         Fatigue

Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some, it can be intense. Depending on the location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for a symptom of problems affecting the heart, lungs or kidneys. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash.

Most commonly, the shingles rash develops as a stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or right side of your torso. Sometimes the shingles rash occurs around one eye or on one side of the neck or face.

When to see a doctor

Contact your doctor promptly if you suspect shingles, but especially in the following situations:

·         The pain and rash occur near an eye. If left untreated, this infection can lead to permanent eye damage.

·         You're 60 or older, because age significantly increases your risk of complications.

·         You or someone in your family has a weakened immune system (due to cancer, medications or chronic illness).

·         The rash is widespread and painful.