Aquino, Ma. Samantha T.

October 13, 2020

BSN – 1B A&P – Case study 6

Introduction:

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash also known as

Herpes Zoster. It is the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus from the dorsal
root ganglion nerves. Shingles can happen anywhere on your body, wherein it
often appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either to the left
or to the right side of your body. It affects the single sensory nerve ganglion
and nerve supplies in the skin surface. Shingles usually affect one side of the
body. It is most often in the waist, chest, abdomen, or back area.

Signs (Objective):

A person with Shingles can experience red patches on the skin, itching,
fever, chills, fluid-filled blisters, an upset stomach, sensitivity to light, and some
signs like loss of hearing and taste can be observed in a patient with Shingles.

Signs (Subjective):

A person with Shingles can feel headache, muscle weakness, fatigue,

tingling, or burning sensation in/under the skin and numbness on areas where
the Shingles can be seen.

Causes:

Shingles are caused by a virus called Varicella Zoster, from the

Herpesviridae family, the same virus that can cause chickenpox. Having a low
immune system can decrease the body’s ability to fight invaders, causing
vulnerability to infections. Emotional stress can also be a cause of Shingles.
Moreover, aging is also one of the causes of Shingles as the immune system
of adults over 50 and above are not that crisp anymore wherein they are more
prone to diseases and viruses.
Pathophysiology:

Adult, 50 years old above Primary infection with

Varicella Zoster Virus
HIV Infection
Post-chickenpox bearer
Immunosuppressive drugs

Weak immune system

Varicella Zoster Virus

reactivates from dorsal root
ganglia

Varicella Zoster Virus spreads

into the nerve fiber and tracks
out along on the spinal nerve

Disruption of connections
between epidermal cells and
death of neurons

Formation of abnormal neural

connections

Destruction of the connections

of the nerve cell of central
neutrons

Abnormal modulation of pain

exhibits

May cause pain, paralysis and

sensitivity

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Risk Factors:

Many factors could be associated with Shingles, but the most recognized
risk is an adult older than 50 years old, commonly on women. Having a
particular disease and taking some medication such as prolonged use of
steroids such as prednisone can trigger Shingles, a person with a history of
cancer, especially lymphoma, leukemia, and Hodgkin lymphoma because of
the weakened immune system. Lastly, an HIV infection or AIDS can also be a
significant risk for Shingles, mostly to adults.

Complications:

Shingles could develop into some complications like vision loss, skin
infections, pneumonia, postherpetic neuralgia, neurological problems such as
Ramsay Hunt syndrome, and encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain and
spinal cord.

Preventions:

To prevent Shingles, an adult should prioritize having Shingles

vaccine-like Shingrix or Zostavax and Varicella vaccine. Antiviral medication
can help prevent further infection since an antiviral is not like any antibiotics
because they do not destroy their target pathogen; instead, they inhibit its
development. Furthermore, having a healthy immune system by drinking a lot
of water, having a healthy diet rich in alkaline, and exercising regularly.
Another thing that may help a person retain a sound immune system is
detoxifying once in a while and getting a massage to remove excess fluid from
nodes.
Photographs related to Shingles

A stripe of blisters in the back area of a client.

Shingles on the face.

Visual presentation on how the herpes virus enter the dermal nerve.
References:

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