in medical terms what are shingles?

Answer 1

What is shingles?

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection of the nerve roots. It causes pain and a band of rash that spreads on one side of your body. Shingles is most common in older adults and people who have weakened immune systems because of stress, injury, certain medications, or other factors.

What causes shingles?

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the virus (varicella-zoster virus) that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus lies dormant (inactive) in your nerve roots. In some people, it stays dormant for the rest of their lives. In others, the virus reactivates when disease, stress, or aging weakens the immune system.1 The cause of reactivation of the virus is unclear; however, once it does reactivate, it causes shingles, not another case of chickenpox. Most people who get shingles will not get the disease again, although it does come back in a few people.
What are the symptoms of shingles?

Early symptoms of shingles include:

* Headache.
* Sensitivity to light.
* Flu-like symptoms without a fever.

You may then feel itching, tingling, or extreme pain in the area where a rash will develop several days later, commonly on your back or neck. The rash progresses into clusters of blisters along the path of the nerve. The blisters fill with fluid and eventually crust over. It takes 2 to 4 weeks for the blisters to heal, although some scars may remain.2

Complications of shingles can occur and include:

* Postherpetic neuralgia, persistent pain that lasts longer than 1 month after the rash heals.
* Disseminated zoster, a blistery rash that spreads over a large portion of the body and can affect the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, joints, and intestinal tract. Infection may spread to nerves that control movement, which may cause temporary weakness.
* Cranial nerve complications, if shingles affects the nerves originating in the brain. Complications can include inflammation or blockage of blood vessels.
* Herpes zoster ophthalmicus , a shingles rash on the forehead, cheek, nose, and around one eye that could threaten your sight. This type of shingles needs immediate treatment.3

How is shingles treated?

There is no cure for shingles, but treatment may shorten the length of illness and prevent complications. Treatment may include:

* Antiviral medications, sometimes in combination with corticosteroids, to reduce the pain and duration of shingles.
* Pain medications, antidepressants, and topical creams to relieve long-term pain.

Who gets shingles?

You must have had chickenpox, even a mild case, to get shingles. You have an increased risk of developing shingles if you:1

* Are older than 50.
* Have an autoimmune disease, meaning your immune system attacks its own tissues as though they were foreign substances.
* Have another medical condition or stress that weakens the immune system.

You cannot develop shingles if you have not had chickenpox.

Answer 2

Medical Term For Shingles

Answer 3

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Answer 4

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Answer 5

I know others posted links but here's my story. I had an outbreak of shingles back in Jan. of this year...Doc told me it was Herpes Zoster, yes. This is the same virus that causes chicken pox. Once you have had this viral infection and your body recovers from it; it lies dormant along the nerves and nerve endings throughout our lives. Remember, a virus never goes away. The most typical area of outbreak is along the nerve runs from the spinal cord, under the armpit, and terminates near the sternum. The cause of outbreaks is unknown but stress is the most likely factor. I was selling my house and it was taking too long, about to propose to my now fiancee, and having a lot of B.S. from my ex-wife all at the same time:tons of fun there. Doc prescribed me Zovirax which is a broad anti-viral, as well as an antibiotic because I also managed to contract a staph infection; also very common with a shingles outbreak. One complication to be concerned about if you don't get treatment early is post-herpetic neuralgia. This is pain in the area of the outbreak even after the outbreak clears up. This pain can be quite sharp and can continue for months after the initial outbreak. I was lucky and caught it early. I haven't had an outbreak since. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Shingles is a reactivation of the herpes zoster virus (varicella-zoster virus, or VZV). This same virus causes the childhood illness chickenpox. The chickenpox virus (varicella) remains in a dormant state in the body in the root of nerves that control sensation. In about 1 out of 5 people, the virus "wakes up," often many years after the chickenpox infection. The virus then travels along a sensory nerve into the skin causing a painful rash known as shingles.

Answer 7

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
in medical terms what are shingles?

Answer 8

Herpes virus that attacks the nerve endings starting usually right in the middle of the hair line working its way down through the cheek areas causing marks and blisters that are very painful.

Answer 9

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Shingles-Topic-Overview

Answer 10

Herpes Zoster