Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles occurs in people who have had chickenpox and represents a reactivation of the dormant varicella-zoster virus. The disease generally affects the elderly, although it occasionally occurs in younger and/or immunodeficient individuals.
The first sign is usually a tingling feeling, itchiness, or stabbing pain on the skin. After a few days, a rash appears as a band or patch of raised dots on the side of the trunk or face. The rash develops into small, fluid-filled blisters which begin to dry out and crust over within several days. When the rash is at its peak, symptoms can range from mild itching to extreme and intense pain. Contact with a person with shingles may cause chickenpox (but not shingles) in someone who has never had chickenpox before.
Is There Any Treatment?
Treatment for shingles includes antiviral drugs, steroids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and topical agents. The severity and duration of an attack of shingles can be significantly reduced by immediate treatment with the antiviral drugs acyclovir, valacyclovir or famcyclovir. These drugs may also help stave off the painful aftereffects of shingles known as postherpetic neuralgia.
What Is the Prognosis?
Although shingles can be very painful and itchy, it is not generally dangerous to healthy individuals and it usually resolves without complications. The rash and pain usually go away within 3 to 5 weeks. Sometimes serious effects including partial facial paralysis (usually temporary), ear damage, or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) may occur. Persons with shingles on the upper half of the face should seek medical attention immediately as the virus may cause serious damage to the eyes. Most people who have shingles have only one bout with the disease in their lifetime. However, individuals with impaired immune systems, i.e., people with AIDS or cancer, may suffer repeated episodes.
Related NINDS Publications
The following publications are available on the Web site of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, http://www.ninds.nih.gov.
- Shingles: Hope Through Research
An informational booklet on shingles compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
- Ramsay Hunt Syndrome Type I
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome Type I (Herpes Zoster Oticus) information page compiled by NINDS, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
- Chronic Pain: Hope Through Research
Chronic pain information booklet compiled by NINDS, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Resources
American Chronic Pain Association
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677
(916) 632-0922
ACPA@pacbell.net
http://www.theacpa.org
Click here for the names and contact information for more pain-management organizations.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is a component of the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
