Shingles virus — Causes, symptoms,treatment

What is shingles?

Shingles is a viral infection responsible for the painful red rashes on your body. It is caused by a virus named varicella-zoster. This is the virus that causes Chickenpox.  

After you get exposed to Chickenpox, the virus stays inside your body near the spinal cord and brain. It can be inside your body for years in a dormant state before becoming active again and causes shingles.  

However, the same virus is responsible for both Chickenpox and shingles; there are a variety of differences between these two diseases. Chickenpox gives rise to small, itchy blisters that start from your back and spread all over your body.  

But, in the case of shingles, you will experience red-coloured rashes (blisters in some conditions) that generally develop around your torso. It can also appear on the back, hands, face and even eyes.  Although shingles is not a life-threatening disease, it causes painful rashes and blisters that can become severe in some cases.  

What are the symptoms of shingles? 

One of the earliest symptoms of this disease is the red-coloured rashes that appear on one side of the body. In some cases, these rashes develop into blisters. These are generally painful. Other symptoms include:

• Constant itching
• Burning, numbness and pain around the infected area
• Blisters with fluids
• Headache, chills and fever
• Fatigue

If any of the above-listed symptoms are felt, visit a doctor as early as possible. As shingles cannot be cured completely, early treatment can help reduce the severity of the disease.  

What are the causes of shingles?

The virus varicella-zoster is responsible for shingles. If this virus first enters your body, it is most likely to cause Chickenpox. On the contrary to the common misconception, Chickenpox can also affect adults apart from children.  

Once Chickenpox is treated, the virus enters the state of dormancy. It resides in your body in that state for years. For some reason (still, scientists are trying to figure out), the virus may reactivate and travel through the nerves of your skin.  

This causes shingles disease that leads to painful rashes and blisters. However, not everyone with a history of Chickenpox will get shingles.  

Scientists believe that the weak immune system wakes the virus from its dormant state as this disease commonly affects older adults.  

Is shingles contagious?

A person affected with shingles develops fluid-filled blisters. If the open sores from the rash area are physically contacted, the virus will spread to the other person.  

If you haven’t gotten Chickenpox and haven’t been injected with the Chickenpox vaccine, you will most likely get infected by this virus. Once the virus transmits to another person with a weak immune system, it will often cause Chickenpox at first.  

Hence, it is advisable not to have physical contact with the shingles infected person as this virus is contagious.  

Who is at risk?

Shingles commonly occur in a person who has a weak immune system. It will most likely occur among those who have been infected with Chickenpox earlier.  

Some other risk factors include:

• Older people more than 50 years of age are at risk of developing this disease.  
• Those infected with HIV/AIDS are at high risk because it weakens one’s immune system, thus paving the way for shingles infection.  
•  Those who undergo cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy are also at risk as these treatments suppress the immune response.  
• Those who have undergone organ transplantation pose a risk of getting shingles as the drugs prescribed to them are designed to reduce the immune response so that the immune system will not fight against the new organs.  

Is there any vaccine for shingles?

In India, the commonly administered vaccine for shingles is the Zostavax vaccine. It is generally administered for adults above 50 years of age. This vaccine contains a weakened varicella-zoster virus that helps stimulate the immune system.  

You need to take this vaccine on the advice of a medical practitioner. This is not to be self-administered.  

The efficacy of this vaccine differs for different people. It does not 100% prevent the disease from occurring. You need to consult your doctor if you have any issues with your liver, heart or kidney before administering this vaccine.  

What are the treatments available for shingles?

Although there is no complete cure for this disease, doctors use some medications and treatments that may ease the severity of this disease.  

Some common drugs suggested for this disease include:

• Acyclovir
• Famciclovir
• Valacyclovir

Some treatments can ease the pain caused by shingles. Some of them are:

• Colloidal oatmeal baths
• Taking numbing medications  
• Cool compresses (using ice cubes or plastic bags)
• Taking painkillers (prescribed by doctors)

It is essential to visit your doctor within three days if you develop any of the symptoms, as early medications relieve your pain and the harshness of the disease. In most cases, this disease affects only once and will not recur.

What are the home remedies available for shingles?

There are certain practices you can do at home that relieve your pain. They are:

• Cleaning your sores with cold water and taking cool showers
• Applying calamine lotion on itchy areas
• Consuming foods that contain Vitamin A, B12, C and E
• Intake foods that boost your immunity

To sum up

Shingles disease does not pose any severe threat to life, but for many, the pain caused by this disease is unbearable. Since there is no conclusive treatment to cure this disease, you can prevent this disease by enhancing your immunity.  

With vaccines for Chickenpox, the prevalence of shingles disease is considerably reduced. But still, the responsibility of preventing this disease lies in your hands, as the famous saying quote, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”