Shingles occurs when the chickenpox virus, a childhood illness, reactivates. In individuals who had chickenpox in childhood, the virus remains dormant in the nerve roots for life. When the body's immune system weakens (due to febrile illnesses, stress, extreme fatigue, old age, or blood disorders), the virus travels along the sensory nerves and reaches the skin.
Pain is usually present in the initial stages, and until the rash appears, the disease can be confused with acute conditions causing pain, such as heart disease, kidney stones, or appendicitis, depending on the location of the pain. Diagnosis is easier once the rash develops. Grouped blisters with a central umbilication, redness, and intermittent pain, especially worsening at night, have led to the disease being popularly called "night burn." The disease lasts approximately three weeks.
For shingles treatments to be effective, they must be applied within the first 72 hours of the rash appearing.
Treatment involves antivirals, pain relievers, B vitamin complex, drying pastes, and sometimes cortisone. In some people, especially the elderly, pain may persist after the shingles rash disappears. This condition, called postherpetic neuralgia (pain after shingles), can be quite severe and requires treatment.
ANTIVIRAL TREATMENT
Acyclovir tablets (4g/day), Valacylovir tablets (1000mg three times a day), Famciclovir (500mg three times a day), Foscarnet (for AIDS patients).
Archival source
Open the original article from the old site.
← All articles