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Overview
Anyone who has had chicken pox is a prime candidate for developing its sister disease, shingles. That's because you never actually "get rid" of chicken pox once you've had it: The blisters may disappear, but remnants of the virus remain in your body for the rest of your life, waiting for an opportunity (when you're stressed or your immune system is suppressed) to reappear as shingles. Therefore, people who have AIDS also are susceptible to shingles.
Unlike chicken pox, the discomfort you experience with shingles may not go away when your blisters disappear. Indeed, almost half the people over age 60 who experience a bout of shingles develop chronic neuralgia, a lingering soft-tissue pain that results from inflamed nerve endings. Because the best medical treatment for shingles (a medicine called acylovir) works best in the disease's early stages, it's a good idea to see your doctor as soon as you suspect you have shingles.
Symptoms/Signs:
- Pain or tingling (usually limited to one side of your body or face), followed by a red skin rash (often running in a "belt" from spine to chest) that contains small blisters filled with clear fluid that cloud and crust over after a few days. Occasionally, early-stage symptoms are preceded by flu-like symptoms, four or five days of fever, fatigue, headache, chills, or an upset stomach.
Consult Your Doctor If:
- Pain from shingles is severe.
- You suspect shingles within 48 hours of the onset of a rash.
- You experience shingles symptoms accompanied by any eye pain or involvement of the nose.
- You experience chronic pain long after a shingles rash has disappeared.
Home Care Ideas:
- Take an over-the-counter analgesic (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen) for pain.
- Apply an antibiotic ointment to blisters to keep infection at bay. (Polysporin+ is a good choice.)
- In the first 48 hours, ask your doctor about getting a prescription for alacylovir (also known as Valtrex), an anti-viral medication that can speed recovery time.
- Do not use the over-the-counter shingles remedy Zostrix until blisters have disappeared. Zostrix is intended for late-stage shingles pain only and can cause great discomfort if applied to blistered skin.
- Apply cool, wet compresses to affected areas to relieve pain.
- Avoid heat and direct sunlight.
- Keep blisters covered until they crust over to avoid spreading the shingles virus to someone else.
- If you've never had chicken pox, ask your doctor about receiving a chicken pox immunization.
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