Author’s Bio: Waris D. Khan is a health science student. He enjoys reading and writing about medical and wellness topics to provide awareness for people everywhere.

Shingles is an infection causing painful rashes to appear on spots in the body, usually around the right or left side of the torso. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the condition affects almost 1 in every 3 Americans, and 1 million Americans contract shingles each year.

What are the causes of Shingles?

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes Chicken Pox. If you’ve had Chickenpox before, you are at high risk for Shingles due to the fact that the virus stays dormant within your body after healing from Chicken Pox. The Varicella-Zoster Virus is highly contagious and can spread through direct contact with open sores caused by Shingles. Common risk factors for Shingles include

Certain diseases such as HIV/AIDS can increase your risk of Shingles
Ongoing Cancer treatment such as Chemotherapy
If you’re older than 50
Certain medications used to prevent rejection of transplants
Prolonged use of Steroids

Symptoms of Shingles

Symptoms of Shingles include

Burning, tingling, itching, or small pain before a rash appears
Red patches
Fluid filled blisters

Some people also experiences symptoms beyond rashes and blisters including

Headaches
Fevers
Chills
Muscle Weakness

When to contact your doctor

Contact your doctor about shingles if

The rash appears near the eye, there is a chance for permanent eye damage to occur if the rash is left untreated
You are over the age of 60, as the risk for complications significantly increases as you age
You or someone related to you have a weakened immune system

Shingles Complications

If the following symptoms aren’t adressed and properly treated, some complications may arise such as

Postherpic Neuralgia – The most common complication of Shingles which happens after the virus inflames and damages nerves and roots. This leads to sharp pains in the area of the rash after it has healed and occurs in 1 in every 5 people who get Shingles
Vision loss – Shingles around the eye area can lead to eye infections that lead to vision loss
Skin infections – If the blisters caused by Shingles aren’t properly treated, they can cause painful and severe infections
Neurological Problems – Shingles may cause Encephalitis, facial paralysis, or hearing problems depending on which nerves in the face are affected

Prevention

People looking to prevent Shingles should look into the Shingles Vaccine. There are currently two available: Shingrix and Zostavax.

Shingrix

The Shingrix vaccine, introduced in 2017, includes the following characteristics

97% effective in preventing Shingles in adults 50-69 years old
91% effective in preventing Shingles in adults over the age of 70
2 doses, the second should be administered 2-6 months after the first
Intramuscular injection
Can be used with immunocompromised individuals
Typical medicare copay is $0-$164
Side effects:

Redness at the site of injection
Pain at the site of injection
Swelling at the site of injection
Itching at the site of injection
Headache
Fever
Muscle pain
Fatigue

Zostavax

The Zostavax vaccine, introduced in 2006, includes the following characteristics

70% effective in preventing Shingles in adults 50-59 years old
65% effective in preventing Shingles in adults 60-69 years old
41% effective in preventing Shingles in adults 70-79 years old
18% effective in preventing Shingles in adults over the age of 80
Single dose injection
Subcutaneous injection
Cannot be used with an immunocompromised individual
Typical medicare copay is $0-$237
Side effects
- Redness at the site of injection
- Pain at the site of injection
- Swelling at the site of injection
- Itching at the site of injection
- Headache
- Fever

Treatment

If you contract Shingles, there are many antiviral medications available to help lessen the severity and length of the infection. These medications include

Acylovir: A antiviral drug used to lessen the severity of infections caused by viruses such as Herpes type 1 and 2 and Herpes Zoster. The most common brand of this medication is Zovirax
Valacyclovir: An antiviral drug similar to Acyclovir used to lessen the severity of infections caused by Herpes type 1 and 2 and Herpes Zoster. The most common brand for this medication is Valtrex
Famciclovir: An antiviral drug similar to Acyclovir and Valacyclovir, also treats Herpes type 1 and 2 and Herpes Zoster. The drug lasts for longer than Valacyclovir and Acyclvoir so less dosages have to be taken each day. The most common brand for this medication is Famvir

At home treatments

The Shingles virus itself is almost never deadly, but you should still check up with you doctor if you suspect you have it. While waiting at home however, there are some remedies that may help reduce pain and discomfort

Cool Shower or Bath/ Healing Bath – Cool water is used to help reduce the pain and itchiness associated with Shingles
Wet, Cool Compress – Wet a cloth is cold water, wring out the cloth, and apply it to rash and blisters to reduce pain
Baking Soda and Cornstarch Paste – Prepare 2 Parts of Baking Soda or Cornstarch to 1 part water and mix, then apply to rash to reduce itching
Soothing Lotions – Use unscented lotions containing the ingredient capsaicin to help alleviate the discomfort
Dietary Fixes – Strong immune systems can prevent Shingles from getting worse and spreading to other parts of your body. Some foods that can strengthen your immune system include

Red meat
Eggs
Whole Grains
Dairy
Beans
Vegetables
Oranges
Bananas

Online Doctor Appointments

Shingles can often be painful, irritating, and in some cases even cosmetically displeasing, but with the right prevention and treatment, the healing process can be painless and quick. If you or someone you know is suffering from Shingles, feel free to ask questions and seek help from our online doctors. At Home Urgent Care provides telehealth services so you can safely and confidently keep your health in check with our primary and urgent care services. Book an appointment today with our health experts available at your convenience 365 days a year!