What is Herpes Zoster? How to manage it? What are the precautions to be taken? What are the signs and symptoms? What is the cause of this disease? How to treat it? How can homeopathy help you? All of this answered, in this post and of course our doctors always there to help you. Just fill in your details in the form down below and we will answer all your questions for FREE!
What is Herpes Zoster?
Herpes zoster is a painful condition in which there is a skin rash caused by varicella zoster virus which is reactivated. It occurs to people who already had chickenpox; the virus lies inactive in the nerve tissue near the spinal cord or brain.
Herpes zoster is most common in adults over the age of 50 years who have weak immune system due to multiple factors such as stress, infection, and certain medications or one who are undergoing chemo or radiotherapy. Most people who get herpes zoster get better and will not get it again, but in very few cases it reoccurs.
Who is more prone to get affected with Herpes Zoster?
Herpes can happen at any age but a child who had chicken pox before one year of age or adults above 50 years are at risk. No specific sex predilection is there in Herpes
What are the causes of Herpes Zoster?
• The chicken pox virus is reactivated (varicella-zoster virus).
• Depressed immune system.
• Emotional and psychological stress.
• Newborns
• Females/Pregnant women
• Undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
• Transmitted infection.
What are the signs and symptoms of Herpes Zoster?
• Skin hypersensitivity.
• Pain, burning, numbness or tingling.
• Red rash
• Fluid-filled blister
• itching
• Pitted scars.
• Rash on side of the body.
• Fever and chills.
• General achiness
• Headache
• Fatigue.
• Jaw pain.
• Swollen glands.
• Abdominal pain.
• Genital soreness.
• Vision problem
• Difficulty moving facial muscles.
• Hearing loss in a few cases
What investigations are advised for Herpes Zoster?
• Complete case history
• Physical examination.
• Scrape from the blister to detect a virus.
• Blood test.
What treatment is advised for Herpes Zoster?
• Medicines like Acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir.
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Analgesics.
• Antiviral drugs.
• Antibacterial drugs.
• Antidepressants.
• Anticonvulsants.
• Numbing agents.
What is the prognosis of Herpes Zoster?
Herpes zoster or shingles clear up in 2to 3 weeks and returns rarely. There may be weakness or paralysis in a few cases.
What are the complications of Herpes Zoster?
• Bacterial skin infection.
• Blindness.
• Deafness.
• Sepsis.
• Neurological pains.
• Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
What is the differential diagnosis of Herpes zoster?
• Appendicitis.
• Bell’s palsy.
• Conjunctivitis.
• Contact dermatitis.
• Gallstones.
• Herpes simplex.
• Inflammation of the large intestine.
• Kidney stones.
• Poison ivy.
• Poison oak.
• Renal calculi.
• Lichen striatus.
• Jellyfish stings.
• Ecthyma
• Chicken pox.
• Cellulitis.
• Stroke
• Abscess.
• Syphilis.
What management is helpful for herpes zoster?
• Keep the skin clean.
• Do not use contaminated items.
• Wash non-disposable things in boiling water and disinfect them before use.
• Stay away from a contaminated person.
• Avoid touching rashes or blisters.
• Get proper medications and vaccinations for chicken pox.
• Take a cool bath.
• Use wet, cold compressions.
What are commonly indicated homeopathic remedies for herpes zoster?
Carboneum oxygenisatum
Mentha piperita
Mezereum
Ranunculus bulbosus
Rhus toxicodendron
For more information, you can visit Wikipedia and eMedicine.
