Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the Varicella zoster virus (VZV), which is part of the Herpes virus family. It is not the same herpes virus that causes genital herpes or cold sores. <p>(Photo: Electron micrograph of Varicella zoster virus. Approximately 150,000-fold magnification. Made available by CDC/Dr. Erskine Palmer/B.G. Partin. Wikimedia Commons)
- Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the Varicella zoster virus (VZV), which is part of the Herpes virus family. It is not the same herpes virus that causes genital herpes or cold sores. <p>(Photo: Electron micrograph of Varicella zoster virus. Approximately 150,000-fold magnification. Made available by CDC/Dr. Erskine Palmer/B.G. Partin. Wikimedia Commons)
- Varicella zoster virus starts out in the system as chicken pox, usually during childhood. <p>(photo: child with chicken pox, by Thomas Netsch, Wikimedia Commons)
- Even though we recover from chicken pox, the virus remains dormant in the nervous system. If it becomes reactived, it takes the form of shingles. Continued...<p>(photo: Progression of shingles, by Renee Gordon, Food and Drug Administration. Wikimedia Commons)
- The virus infects the nerves and the skin around them, causing a tingling or burning pain followed by a blistering skin rash. 1)blisters form 2)the blisters fill with pus and break open 3)the blisters crust over 4)the blisters begin to heal. The process takes between 2-4 weeks. 5)Nerve damage sometimes continues to cause painful sensations for weeks to years after the blisters disappear. This is referred to as post-herpetic neuralgia.
- The shingles rash most commonly forms on the chest and abdomen, but may appear anywhere on the body, including arms, legs, neck and face.<p> (photo: Shingles on the chest, by Preston Hunt, Wikimedia Commons)
- Shingles is not contagious to people who have already had chicken pox. It is, however, contagious to adults and children who have not had the childhood illness. If exposed to a person with shingles, these people run the risk of developing chicken pox.<p> (photo: an adult with chicken pox. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wikimedia Commons)
- Varicella zoster virus often reactives due to emotional stress or in people who have an immune deficiency, such as during cancer treatments or when dealing with HIV/AIDS. Aging is the most common factor in shingles. Over 50% of all cases occur in people over the age of 60.<p>(photo: older man, by Joe Zlomek, sxc.hu)
- Antiviral medication can reduce the severity and duration of shingles if treatment is started during the first 72 hours. Pain medication and anti-itch lotions may be used to relieve the discomfort of shingles.<p> (photo: prescription medication, Ryan von Schwedler, sxc.hu)
- The FDA has approved a shingles vaccine for use in adults over 60 years of age who have had chicken pox. It is more than 60% effective in reducing shingle symptoms and post-herpetic neuralgia. The vaccine contains a booster dose of the chicken pox vaccine given to children. <p>(photo: vaccine, Brian Hoskins, sxc.hu)
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