Dealing with Shingles, a Different Kind of Herpes

I remember the first day I ever heard of the kind of shingles that aren't attached to my roof. I was at work, just getting over a nasty case of cellulitis that had incapacitated me for a few days. I was still feeling poorly, mainly because my skin had developed a red, prickly, tingly rash. The patch of tiny blisters was located on the right side of my upper chest, just under my collar bone. It hurt, and I felt like I had the flu. I showed the rash to one of my co-workers, who wisely and correctly commented that it looked like I had shingles.

What are shingles?

When someone says they have shingles, they are really referring to the herpes zoster virus. Shingles is a viral infection of the nerve roots that forms a red, painful rash with tiny blisters filled with clear fluid. The skin may feel tingly or like it's burning before the rash appears.

Often, the rash will show up near your beltline, which is why the virus that causes shingles is called herpes zoster. Zoster is an ancient Greek word for belt or girdle. If you don't get shingles near your beltline, the rash can form anywhere else on your body, but generally, the shingles will be confined to just one side.

What are some other symptoms of shingles?

Besides the painful, itchy, red rash with blisters, people who have shingles may not feel well. They may have a fever, chills, a headache, an upset stomach, or experience sensitivity to light.

What causes shingles?

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chicken pox. After you've had the chicken pox, the virus lies dormant in your nerve cells, waiting for just the right moment to reactivate as shingles. Anyone who has been exposed to the varicella-zoster virus can get shingles. However, shingles and the chicken pox are two different illnesses.

What are the risk factors for shingles?

First and foremost, in order to get shingles, a person has to have had the chicken pox or otherwise been exposed to the virus that causes shingles. The second biggest risk factor is age. According to the Mayo Clinic's Web site, over half the reported cases of shingles are in people over age 60. Those who have depressed immune systems are also at a greater risk of developing shingles. Shingles is common in people who suffer from HIV/AIDS or cancer, are taking medical treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy, or are using certain types of drugs like steroids. And of course, shingles can also erupt in people for no apparent reason.

In my case, I was working in a stressful job and had been taking high powered antibiotics for an infection before I got shingles. At the time, I was still in my twenties, which may be why my case was relatively mild.

What to do if you think you might have shingles...

The first thing to know is that shingles can be contagious and potentially dangerous to certain people. If you suspect that you might have shingles, see your health professional promptly, especially if you have a weakened immune system, the rash is near your eyes, or the pain is severe or widespread. He or she can confirm the diagnosis, prescribe antiviral medication such as acyclovir, and give you instructions on how to take care of yourself while you're getting better.

While you're recovering, try to avoid having physical contact with people in the following groups:

* Pregnant women (chicken pox can be harmful to developing fetuses)
* Anyone who has never had the chicken pox
* Newborns
* People with compromised immune systems

Remember that shingles can cause chicken pox in those who have never had chicken pox before. However, healthy people who have had the chicken pox cannot be infected by someone who has shingles.

If you don't want to or can't see a health care professional...

It is possible but not advisable to recover from shingles without seeking medical treatment. Although many people with shingles will recover without incident, shingles can lead to some very serious complications. The disease can affect your internal organs in a condition called disseminated zoster, which is a blistery rash that spreads all over the body. Disseminated zoster can seriously affect the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, joints, and intestinal tract. The infection might also invade the nerves that control movement, which can lead to temporary weakness. Shingles that show up on your face can lead to hearing problems, temporary or permanent blindness, or a temporary or permanent loss of facial movement. Bacterial skin infections are a possible complication, especially if the blisters are not kept clean. Additional potential calamities include inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or other neurological problems. With such a long list of scary potential complications, it makes sense to see a health care professional as soon as possible if you think you might have shingles.

How long before you're all better?

Without medical treatment, it usually takes a few weeks to completely recover from shingles. With antiviral drugs, a shingles infection may clear up much faster, although there is no cure.

Shingles can be extremely painful or they can just be annoying. About one in every five unlucky people who has shingles will go on to develop postherpetic neuralgia, a condition that can make their skin painful to the touch for months after the infection has abated. The sensitivity associated with postherpetic neuralgia can be so severe that even a light touch or a stiff breeze can cause significant pain. Although most people with postherpetic neuralgia eventually get better, some people never completely get over the complication.

If you seek treatment within 72 hours of noticing the rash, your health care provider can prescribe antiviral medication that will shorten the duration and intensity of the shingles infection. Your health care provider may also prescribe medication for pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs to help reduce inflammation and lower your risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia.

Preventing shingles-- time for shots!

If you've never had the chicken pox before, you may want to consider getting the chicken pox vaccine (Varivax). It's currently recommended as a routine vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 18 months, but it can also be given to older children and adults who have never been infected with chicken pox. Getting the vaccine is not a guarantee that you'll never be infected with the chicken pox, but it may significantly reduce your risk.

A shingles vaccine (Zostavax) is also available and recommended for certain people over age 60 who have had the chicken pox. The vaccine is meant to be used as a prevention strategy and won't help those who already have shingles. Again, getting the shot is no guarantee that you'll never get shingles, but it can lessen the risk and the severity of the disease and may help prevent postherpetic neuralgia.

The following people should not get the shingles vaccine:

* Those who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin or any other component of the shingles vaccine
* Anyone who has HIV/AIDS or another disease that weakens the immune system
* People who are taking medical treatments that involve steroids, radiation or chemotherapy
* Anyone who has a history of bone marrow or lymphatic cancer
* Those who are suffering from active, untreated tuberculosis

Final thoughts

My bout with shingles was annoying, but mild. I took Valtrex for several days and the infection cleared up quickly and without complications. But I'll never forget how that tingly, painful rash looked and felt. After hearing some shingles horror stories from other people, I'm grateful that I just had a mild case and hope that nasty virus never rears its head again.