2007-03-22 19:35:30 · 6 answers · asked by john k 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
You go to the doc right away because shingles hurts like hell and can take a long time to clear up. Get an antiviral medication such as Valtrex.
2007-03-22 20:04:57 · answer #1 · answered by Irene F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shingles is a very painful nerve disease. It comes from the herpes zoster virus which also causes chicken pox. If you had chicken pox when you were younger you may have had the virus lying dormant in your body and for that reason got shingles. Go to the doctor as this is very painful. The doctor will probably give you a prescription for Valtrex or something newer. Shingles affect the nerves at the site where you have it and it leaves a bad scar on your skin afterwards.
2007-03-23 20:04:37 · answer #2 · answered by Marilyn H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi:
Do go to your doctor, particularly if the shingles appear anywhere up on your head, because they might be getting into your eyes too, and that will cause some major problems. I am very sorry to hear that you have these, and take care of yourself. Go to the website webmd to see more information on them. My spouse has had them, and they are leftovers from the virus that hides inside nerve endings from the chicken pox, and wait around until your immune system is a little quirky, and let's them slip past again. Usually, the shingles are just on one side of your body. Hope this helps, and I hope you are feeling better soon.
2007-03-23 03:43:51 · answer #3 · answered by artistpw 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All I can say is don't believe everything you read about shingles. I have had them 4 times. See a doctor and get meds.
2007-03-24 10:53:16 · answer #4 · answered by dettie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Herpes zoster is infection that results when varicella-zoster virus reactivates from its latent state in a posterior dorsal root ganglion. Symptoms usually begin with pain along the affected dermatome, followed in 2 to 3 days by a vesicular eruption that is usually diagnostic. Treatment is antiviral drugs and possibly corticosteroids given within 72 h after skin lesions appear.
Please see the web pages for more details on Herpes zoster.
2007-03-23 04:08:21 · answer #5 · answered by gangadharan nair 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nothing to be worried about. shingles is the chicken pox virus re-appearing in your body. if a person has chicken pox when they are younger you never actually fully get rid of the virus, it lies dormant in your nerves. sometimes it gets triggered when we are older and it's called shingles.
2007-03-23 02:48:33 · answer #6 · answered by kittycat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋