Shingles

Shingles - the diease that I'm down with. Went to look for some info and this is what I found:

What is shingles?


Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection of the nerve roots. It causes pain and often causes a rash on one side of the body, the left or right. The rash appears in a band, a strip, or a small area. Shingles is most common in older adults and people who have weak immune systems because of stress, injury, certain medicines, or other reasons. Most people who get shingles will get better and will not get it again.



What causes shingles?

Shingles occurs when the virus that causes chickenpox starts up again in your body. After you get better from chickenpox, the virus ”sleeps” (is dormant) in your nerve roots. In some people, it stays dormant forever. In others, the virus “wakes up” when disease, stress, or aging weakens the immune system. It is not clear why this happens. But after the virus becomes active again, it can only cause shingles, not chickenpox.

You can't catch shingles from someone else who has shingles.



What happens when you get shingles?

You may first experience a headache, flu-like symptoms (usually without a fever), and sensitivity to light, followed by itching, tingling, or pain in the area where a rash may develop. The pain usually occurs several days or weeks before a rash appears on the left or right side of your body. The rash will be in a band, a strip, or a small area. Within 3 to 5 days, the rash turns into fluid-filled blisters that ooze and crust over. The rash heals in about 2 to 4 weeks, although you may have long-lasting scars. 4 A few people won't get a rash, or the rash will be mild.



How is shingles treated?

There is no cure for shingles, but treatment may help you get well sooner and prevent other problems. Call your doctor as soon as you think you may have shingles. The sooner you start treatment, the better it works.



Who gets shingles?

Anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles. You have a greater chance of getting shingles if you:

• Are older than 50.

• Have an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack your body’s own tissues.

• Have another health problem or stress that weakens the immune system.

Possible complications of shingles include:

• Postherpetic neuralgia. This common complication of shingles (herpes zoster) lasts for at least 30 days and can continue for months to years. Postherpetic neuralgia causes facial nerve problems, headaches, and persistent pain.

• Disseminated zoster, a blistery rash that spreads over a large portion of your body and affects the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, joints, and intestinal tract. Infection can also spread to nerves that control movement, which may cause temporary weakness.

• Herpes zoster ophthalmicus, a shingles rash on the forehead, cheek, nose, and around one eye, which could threaten your sight. Immediate treatment is necessary for this type of shingles.

• Cranial nerve complications, affecting the nerves originating in the brain – bringing even more complications such as inflammation, intense ear pain, infection of central nervous system that can lead to death.

• Reduced sensitivity or a loss of feeling after shingles heals.

• Scarring, skin discoloration, or bacterial infection of the blisters.

• There is a slightly increased risk of developing cancer after a herpes zoster (shingles) infection.

Reference :
1)  http://health.yahoo.com/infectiousdisease-overview/shingles-topic-overview/healthwise--hw75435.html;_ylt=AsAbbIXFBtmFKsEfLEL8H94Su7cF
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_zoster

I'm tearing up....