Herpes Zoster Symptoms and Cure

Though no symptoms of Herpes Zoster are a surety of the presence of the infection, there are certain indications that should make one sit up and take notice. A burning, throbbing sensation on the skin, accompanied by fluid filled blisters with scab, may be a good indication of the infection. If one has a slight fever with chills, and such an infection on the skin, it could very well be the shingles. When these scabs dry up, they can leave scars that are often not permanent. The skin becomes red in certain areas, and extremely sensitive, so much so that sometimes even spicy food and even a slight breeze can trigger off pain and burning sensations. Then you need to see a doctor. Finally there appear the blisters that actually give its appearance.

The reason for this infection is the virus Varicella-zoster. It is the same virus that causes chicken pox. Many doctors believe that once one suffers from chicken pox, the virus that causes it never really goes away. They stay in the body, though dormant, and when they re-emerge, they case herpes. Anything could actually trigger this re-emergence – stress, age or even a decreased immunity in the system. When it re-appears, the herpes virus starts spreading through the nerve tracts, which is why the burning sensation and the pain occurs. Within two or three days, the rash starts appearing, since the virus now reaches the skin. Then the blisters form, they fill with pus, which subsequently dries up, forming scab. When these scabs dry they fall off, and in two or three weeks, in most cases, the skin below heals.

In most cases this infection blisters appear along a single spinal nerve and usually only on one side of the body. These lesions may appear on the face or the neck, mostly along a particular part of the trigeminal nerve . Since this nerve branches into the forehead, the middle of the face and the lower part of the face, blisters or lesions could appear on any of these parts. Sometimes the eye or the mouth also get lesions, which may be dangerous to the eyesight. If the herpes occurs on the facial nerve, it may case facial paralysis, loss of hearing or taste, even blisters around the ear canal. Sometimes blisters appear on the genitals or the upper thigh too. In some, rare cases, herpes can cause nerves to pain for even years after the outbreak. This condition is called neuralgia and it can be severe.

With the severity of the symptoms, most medical practitioners can identify herpes zoster, but in case tests are required, usually it is a viral culture of a skin lesion to begin with. This may be followed by a complete blood count and an immunoglobulin measurement, to check for the increase in varicella antibodies in the blood.

In most cases, herpes does not require any medication except those that help alleviate the pain and irritation on the lesions. Scratching or disturbing the lesion will create a permanent scar. There are medications for the other symptoms but they are dependent on the patient’s immunological system. In some cases medication is given for reducing inflammation and lessening the risk of neuralgia. Corticosteroids are usually used for this purpose. But these drugs have their own risks associated with them, and should be used only when strictly required.

Traditional medicine has a few cures to help both with the pain and discomfort as well as neuralgia, and experts say acupuncture offers a great support, coupled with a good vegetable and fruit rich diet and rest.

There are other ways to alleviate the pain caused by the itching and sensitivity of the effected area. Cool wet compresses help, and even soothing lotions like starch lotion or calamine lotion can be applied to help reduce the itching. If there is a fever, rest is all that is needed. To prevent further infection, keep the affected skin clean by regularly washing it. It is a good idea to keep the patient away from children and pregnant women because the infection can spread rapidly. For an un-inoculated child, once the infection sets in, it can result in a really bad case of chicken pox.