Herpes zoster: symptoms and treatment

Herpes zoster is a viral disease of an acute nature, the signs of which are rashes on the skin and symptoms of nervous system damage.Shingles( this is the second name of the disease under consideration) is caused by the same virus as chicken pox, so these pathologies have some similarities among themselves.

Table of contents: Causes of herpes zoster Symptoms of herpes zoster Treatment of herpes zoster

Causes of herpes zoster

Herpes zoster is caused by an agent that is unstable to many external factors - it dies after 10 minutes when heated, the same short time it takes forDestruction of the virus by ultraviolet rays and disinfectants.The virus is perfectly preserved at low temperatures, able to survive even with deep freezing.

Only those people who had previously suffered varicella in a latent or typical form can get infected with zoster.Epidemics about outbreaks and prevalence of the disease have never been noted, but it is noted that elderly people are more likely to have herpes zoster, although there are cases of diagnosing the disease in question at a young / middle age.

The causative agent of the herpes zoster belongs to the group of infectious infections.If a child who has not previously had chickenpox contact a sick person, then there is a 100% chance that within 21 days after contact, chicken pox will develop.The virus spreads by airborne droplets.

After a person has chickenpox, which often occurs in childhood, some amount of the virus remains in his body.Under the influence of unfavorable factors, which include stress, hypothermia, nerve load, benign / malignant tumors, human immunodeficiency virus, the virus awakens and provokes the appearance of foci of inflammation on the skin.

Symptoms of shingles

A few days before the onset of the disease( more precisely - before the onset of the appearance of pronounced signs), a person complains of a constant low-intensity headache, general weakness, fever to subfebrile indices, dyspeptic disorders.Parallel to these sensations, burning and discomfort on the skin in the places of future rashes are added.

If we talk about a period of pronounced clinical picture, it will be characterized by a sharp increase in temperature to high rates, nausea and vomiting, refusal of food.In the area of ​​the affected nerve, characteristic eruptions begin to appear - first small patches( 2-5 mm in diameter) of pink color, and after a couple of days - bubbles with colorless contents inside.

Most often there is a unilateral character of skin manifestations of the herpes zoster, moreover, they are located mainly on the face along the branches of the trigeminal nerve, in the intercostal space.Very rarely, rashes appear along the nerves of the upper and lower extremities, in the region of the external genitalia.As a rule, rashes are accompanied by a slight increase in regional lymph nodes and their soreness.

A few days after the first rash, the background on which they are located changes from pink-red to pale, the bubbles begin to dry, and in their place crusts form which fall off only after 3-4 weeks.Symptoms of intoxication disappear only after normal body temperature.

The above described clinical picture is considered classic, but in some cases, the rash may be of a different nature:

• bullous form - the vesicles merge and large bubbles with hemorrhagic contents form in their place;
• abortive form - after the papule has completely formed, the rash begins its regression, moreover, the bubble stage is completely absent;
• generalized form - after there are clearly localized rashes, new foci spread throughout the surface of the skin and mucous membranes.

In this case, the nervous tissue is affected, so patients will complain about:

• paroxysmal burning pains that appear at night;
• disorders of skin sensitivity in specific sites of pathological lesion;
• muscle paresis.

Note: after the first episode of herpes zoster in most cases there is a persistent remission.Neuralgic pain can persist for many months and even years after recovery.

Diagnosis of the disease in question is not difficult, since it has characteristic features.

Treatment of herpes zoster

Therapy for the disease in question is performed only in a complex .Of course, doctors choose individual medications individually, but there are general guidelines for prescribing:

1. Acyclovir is an antiviral drug that will be effective in appointing a disease in the first three days.Nimesulide and Meloxicam are preparations of a non-hormonal anti-inflammatory series that provide analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
2. Antidepressants, hypnotics and sedatives - are prescribed only if there are pronounced signs of damage to the nervous system.
3. Antihistamines - are prescribed only if the patient is troubled by an obsessive itch in the lesions surrounding herpes zoster.
4. Detoxification therapy and the subsequent administration of diuretic drugs - it is advisable to prescribe to patients who, against the background of progression of herpes zoster, observe an intensive intoxication of the body.
5. Topical preparations that contain Acyclovir, a solution of brilliant green and Solcoseryl, which treat affected areas of the skin.
6. Antibacterial drugs - it is advisable to prescribe only in case of bacterial infection of the elements of the rash.

Herpes zoster is a disease that can not be prevented by any preventive measures.As soon as a rash of unexplained etiology appeared on the skin, it is necessary to immediately consult a dermatologist - only a specialist can objectively assess the patient's condition, make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an adequate treatment.

Konev Alexander, internist