Dealing With Shingles
Shingles is a very painful condition, but not known and understood by many people except those who suffer from it. It is caused due to the varicella zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. It is also referred to as herpes zoster and stays in the nervous system of certain people who suffered from chickenpox in the past. At the time when the virus re-emerges, it moves to the skin from the nerves and results in painful blisters and rashes. Shingles usually appear in the area forming a bank around our body’s trunk, but can also appear in localized areas of the body.
If you or anyone around you has suffered from shingles or are concerned about getting it in future, here are some tips that can be quite helpful.
• People over the age of 60 years must get themselves vaccinated. The United States Food and Drug Administration has come up with a vaccine for those who are over 60 years of age and have suffered from chickenpox at some time in their lives, but not from shingles. It is almost 50% effective is providing protection against shingle.
• For the people suffering from shingles, antiviral drugs can act like a lifesaver. They can not only shorten the time length for which you have the outbreak, but also prevent it from getting out of control.
• If you are suffering from shingles, avoid any kind of physical contact with another person. Though the condition is not contagious, physical contact with its corresponding rash can become the cause of chickenpox in other people, particularly those with weakened immunity such as babies, unvaccinated people and pregnant women.
• This condition also leaves behind certain painful aftereffects, also known as postherpetic neuralgia. Various medications, topical agents, anticonvulsants, antidepressants as well as steroids are available to treat the pain that it leaves behind. Ask for help freely.
The key towards treating shingles successful is to attack it in the early stages, ideally before the appearance of blisters. This will help in reducing the severity of shingles as well as help you to recover more quickly.
