Definition:
Shingles is the common name for Herpes Zoster. It is an infectious viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash positioned in a limited area on one side of the body.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis is easier through visual examination if the skin rash have appeared, without the rash; it would be more difficult to difficult shingles. There are also laboratory tests available to help in diagnosis of Shingles
Treatment:
Symptomatic treatment is essential to limit the intensity and interval of pain, condense the length of a shingles episode and reduce at the most prevent further complications.
Symptoms and Signs:
The initial symptoms of Shingles are very common and may appear to be non-specific including general feeling of discomfort and uneasiness (malaise), fever, and headache. After hours or days, the following symptoms will start to manifest:
• Itching
• Sensations of burning pain
• Chills
• Sensitive to heat, cold, light or touch (Paresthesia)
• Persistent local pain in the affected skin area
• Quick stabbing pain
• Tingling, numbing, stinging or throbbing sensation
After the initial phase of Shingles, the following symptoms will begin to be obvious:
• Appearance of the distinguishing skin rash usually on the torso but also may be present on the face, eyes and other parts of the body.
• Initially the rash will look like the first presentation of hives; subsequently the rash will change appearance forming small blisters that erupts and crust over usually with the combining presence of fever and malaise.
Causes:
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of an earlier chicken pox infection.
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