Herpes
Zoster Shingles Virus: Part 2 of the Chickenpox Virus
Do you remember
getting sick with the chickenpox when you were a child? Your parents
may have tried to help you by giving you a bath and putting calamine
lotion on your itchy, red sores. Your mom and dad also probably
told you not to scratch the spots, no matter how much you wanted
to. Recalling the chickenpox may trigger a bit of childhood
nostalgia, but if you have ever had the chickenpox,
you are at risk for a secondary, more serious infection called herpes
zoster, the shingles virus. As a matter of fact, it is estimated
that 20 percent of people will develop the herpes zoster shingles
virus in their lifetime, totaling about 500,000 people annually
in the United States.
What causes chickenpox
to come back as shingles? After you have the chickenpox, it is possible
for virus particles to settle into the nervous system and lie dormant.
In this inactive state, the shingles virus (herpes zoster) remains
close to the spinal cord and brain. Once the herpes zoster shingles
virus becomes active again, a set of complex and often severe symptoms
occur along the affected nerve, including:
- Numbness, tingling, or itching,
usually on one side of the body or face
- Burning or shooting pain,
often severe
- A painful red rash of fluid-filled
blisters
- The rash resembles chickenpox
and is located along a defined band, often on the torso
After the rash
develops, the blisters will break open to form scabs which generally
heal within about 2 weeks. If the herpes zoster shingles virus occurs
on the face or head, it can permanently affect hearing and vision.
Another possible serious complication of the herpes zoster shingles
virus is pain that lasts for months or years.
The shingles
virus is most common in people over the age of 50, but anyone who
has had chickenpox could possibly become sick with shingles. This
extremely painful illness tends to strike people with weakened immune
systems, so anything a person can do to boost the immune system
may help prevent an outbreak of the herpes zoster shingles virus.
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