HERPES ZOSTER Herpes Zoster is the medical terminology for shingles.

Anyone who has had chicken pox can develop shingles because it is caused by the same virus. After the chicken pox clear, the virus remains inactive within certain nerve cells of the body. When the virus reactivates, shingles can develop. Shingles cause more pain and less itching than chicken pox. Though shingles is not as contagious as chicken pox, a person with shingles can transmit the virus by direct skin contact if blisters break. It is not clear what causes the virus to reactivate, but it is more common in people over the age of 50. Illness, trauma, depressed immune system and stress my trigger shingles to appear. The virus attacks certain nerve roots commonly on the upper body and buttocks. Signs and Symptoms. A person may feel burning, itching, tingling or extreme sensitivity on the skin. These symptoms may be accompanied by fever or headache. A rash develops and turns into groups of blisters, which may look yellow or bloody before they scab over and disappear. Diagnosis. The shingles rash is diagnosed by inspection of the skin and a history of pain prior to the appearance of the rash. Confirmation may include scraping of the skin or laboratory tests on the fluid from the blisters. Treatment. When diagnosed early (within 72 hours), oral anti-viral medication can be prescribed. To reduce swelling and pain, a corticosteroid may also be prescribed. Cool compresses may help reduce the pain of shingles. The pain may require medication prescribed by a physician. Complications. The most common problem is post-herpetic neuralgia (pain along the nerve path). This can last for months or even years and is more common in older people. Bacterial infections can develop in the blisters. Persistent pain and redness are signs of infection. Shingles in the eye can result in glaucoma/scarring and blindness. Vaccination against Shingles. Children are vaccinated to prevent chicken pox. Adults aged 60 and older who have never had zoster can be vaccinated to reduce the incidence of shingles by more than 60%. Ask your healthcare provider if you are eligible for the vaccination. (Source: American Academy of Dermatology. 2008.)