Internal Shingles Symptoms

You must be aware of the fact that the virus that causes a chickenpox infection, makes one susceptible to shingles infection. Only those who have been struck by chickenpox, can develop shingles in the future. Shingles is more or less similar to chickenpox in manifestation. One observes a rash cropping up on one part of the body. These rashes appear on the region of the affected nerve. These rashes also appear on the body, externally. This is a very unpleasant experience as it causes burning sensation and a lot of discomfort to the patient. External shingles are a common occurrence and most of us are aware of this condition. However, internal shingles is a condition that one does not hear about commonly. Internal shingles occur within the body. This makes one wonder, what are internal shingles symptoms? We shall have a look at the symptoms and treatment for internal shingles in this Buzzle article.

What are Internal Shingles?
Shingles is an infection that occurs after reactivation of the virus lying dormant at the nerve ends. When the virus is activated, it travels down the nerve causing a rash on the affected part. Sometimes, shingles strikes internal organs as the nerve affected is connected to these regions. This condition is far more serious than external shingles and can lead to serious complications.

Symptoms of Internal Shingles
It is important to know a bit about the internal shingles symptoms as it will help you get medical help soon. The first give away of internal shingles is swelling of the lymph nodes. One observes this swelling under the arms or in the groin area. This happens due to the activation of the immune system against the virus. The next symptom includes an unexplained abdominal pain. The stomach becomes tender to touch and one suffers from gastrointestinal upsets. This happens if the gastrointestinal tract is affected by the virus. One may even develop blisters in the mouth and throat. These lesions are very painful and irritating. It becomes very difficult for the patient to eat or drink. Apart from these mild signs, one may develop some serious internal shingles symptoms.

One of the serious symptoms is Hutchinson's sign. Here, the nerve of the eye is affected and the rash appears on the end of the nose. Shingles in the eye leads to swelling, vision problems and even temporary blindness. If one observes the rash on their nose, they should immediately seek medical attention. Another serious symptom is the rash appearing on the face, neck, ear and mouth. This occurs after the facial nerve is affected. The patient suffers from severe ear pain, hearing loss, dizziness, and even facial paralysis. The condition is luckily temporary, but requires medical attention.

Sometimes, the virus can invade internal body tissues and organs like lungs, central nervous system as well as the brain. If it affects the lungs, it could lead to breathing problems as well as pneumonia. When it affects the brain, serious complications such as confusion, headaches, dizziness, unconsciousness, etc. occur. The viral infection of the brain leads to encephalitis. This complication causes inflammation of the brain meninges and may damage the nerves around the brain. These serious symptoms may lead to life-threatening complications in the patient.

Treatment for Internal Shingles
The internal shingles treatment includes use of acyclovir. This antiviral drug inhibits the viral DNA replication and resolves the condition. Other antivirals used include valacyclovir and famciclovir. If a patient develops postherpetic neuralgia, then he/she may suffer from persistent pain for many years. Patients may be given antidepressants as well as steroids to reduce the internal shingles symptoms.

Internal shingles symptoms takes about 3 to 5 weeks to resolve completely. In most cases, it is cured without any major complications. Children, elderly as well as immunocompromised individuals may show severe symptoms of internal singles. It is always better to seek early medical help to avoid complications. Internal shingles are not a rare disease, but an uncommon condition. Thus, make sure you visit a doctor at the first sign of any unusual skin rash.