Remember when you were a child and got the chicken pox? An itchy rash took over your body, which was accompanied by a fever, headache, and sore throat.
Highly contagious, 99 percent of adults have had the virus at some point in their lives. Today, a vaccine is available to protect kids from developing chicken pox.
Once you’ve had the chicken pox, you shouldn’t ever have it again. However, it doesn’t just go away. The virus stays dormant in your body for years. And in some circumstances, the virus may become active again and cause an infection called shingles.
What are the chances the chicken pox virus in your body will show its ugly face again? What are the symptoms of shingles and how is it best treated? You’re about to find out.
Risky Business
Basically, if you’d had the chicken pox, you’re at risk for shingles. Anyone at any age can develop this virus, but your risk increases as you get older. Half of all people who get shingles are older than 60.
The virus is often triggered when stress, illness, injury, medications, or general aging puts a strain on the immune system. Those with certain cancers or HIV or are taking immunosuppressive drugs after receiving an organ transplant are at an increased risk for developing shingles.
Fortunately, shingles isn’t contagious for those who have already had the chicken pox. However, people who never had chicken pox can get it from exposure to someone with shingles. The virus is spread through direct contact with rash blisters. This virus is not like the flu that’s spread from body fluids.
Keeping the rash covered will lessen the chance the virus will spread to others.
Shingles Symptoms
Caused by the varicella zoster virus or herpes zoster virus (not to be confused with the sexually transmitted disease herpes), shingles is characterized by a painful skin rash. The rash is usually found only in a small area of the face or body and often appears in a band or strip.
Symptoms progress gradually. During the first stage, you may have a headache or feel sensitive to light. Then you’ll notice an itchy, tingling area of skin, usually on one side of your face, chest, back, or waist. About a week later, a painful rash of blisters will develop where you previously felt the itchiness or tingling. The blisters fill with pus, break open, scab over, and finally begin to heal. It can take two to four weeks for the blisters to heal completely.
For some, the symptoms are mild and the rash stays small, while others experience extreme pain likened to the pain of kidney stones or childbirth. Rarely, the severe pain continues for years after the rash clears up.
Treatment and Prevention
The sooner shingles is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. So if you suspect a shingles infection seek medical attention as soon as possible. Antiviral mediations and pain-relievers are the best ways to relieve symptoms.
Good home care is also important in managing symptoms and preventing the spread of the virus. Keep the rash covered with some sort of bandage. It may be torture, but don’t touch or scratch the area. If necessary, take a colloidal oatmeal bath or apply calamine lotion to relieve itching. Wash your hands frequently and stay away from babies and pregnant women.
Before you wind up with the shingles, consider getting vaccinated. Available primarily for those over the age of 60, the shingles vaccine greatly reduces your risk of developing this virus. People younger than 60 can also get the vaccine, but insurance may not cover it.
Twice the Pain
Suffering from the shingles is no fun. Even less fun is going through it twice. That’s right—while you can’t wind up with chicken pox more than once, shingles can cause you a world of pain more than one time.
