Treatment for Shingles
 As with any condition, prevention and early detection is the key to reducing the length and severity of the illness. When it comes to shingles, there are many steps that can be taken to prevent the viral infection before it even begins. In order to have shingles, you must have already had chicken pox, since shingles is a flare-up of the dormant virus varicella-zoster. There are vaccines available for children to prevent a chicken pox infection, and people who have had the vaccine have a lower incidence of developing shingles.
However, if you have had the chicken pox, you are at risk for shingles. Treatment for shingles depends on how early the infection is detected. Shingles usually clears up after a few weeks, and symptom management becomes the goal. Early detection can reduce the severity and longevity of shingles, and can greatly reduce the likelihood that you will develop postherpetic neuralgia, which is post-infection pain.
Treatment for shingles may include:
- Anti-viral medications to reduce the longevity of the infection
- Pain reducers to help manage the pain of the rash
- Topical antibiotics to prevent infection of open sores
While rare, 10% - 15% of people who get shingles experience postherpetic neuralgia. As the most common complication from shingles, postherpetic neuralgia is a lingering pain at the site of the shingles rash long after it has healed. This pain can last anywhere from a few weeks to over a year.
Common treatment for shingles postherpetic neuralgia includes:
- Pain medication
- Antidepressants
- Topical anesthetics
- Anticonvulsants
If you suspect you or your child has contracted chicken pox or shingles, if you would like more information on common treatment options for shingles, or you are considering the chicken pox vaccine for your child, you should contact your health care provider.
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