Signs & Symptoms of Herpes Zoster
Herpes zoster may have unpleasant connotations, but don't let the name fool you--the symptoms of herpes zoster are nothing like those experienced by people with genital herpes (even though both diseases are caused by the same virus group). Herpes zoster is a painful condition that affects the skin and is more commonly referred to as the "shingles." According to the American Academy of Dermatology, around 20 percent of children who get chicken pox experience herpes zoster later in life.
What Causes Herpes Zoster?
Herpes zoster is caused by the varicella-zoster virus--the same virus responsible for chicken pox. After someone has had chicken pox, the virus never leaves the body entirely; instead, it creeps into the nerves and lies dormant. Why the virus reactivates remains a mystery to researchers, but when it resurfaces, it does not result in a second onset of chicken pox, but a condition known as herpes zoster which affects nerve endings in a specific part of the body and result in an outbreak on the skin. Herpes zoster is more commonly seen in the elderly and people with weak or crippled immune systems.
First Symptoms
The first sign of herpes zoster is pain--and sometimes it can be unbearable. Even before symptoms of the skin occur, certain areas of the body may be extremely sensitive and react to the slightest touch. The pain can be mistaken for other health conditions, such as kidney stones or appendicitis, depending on the part of the body affected. Some people also have fever, chills, a headache or an upset stomach that carry into the next stage of herpes zoster.
Rash
Herpes zoster ultimately results in an outbreak on the skin surface. A red, painful rash develops that consists of tiny fluid-filled blisters. This rash will almost always occurs on only one side of the body, which helps physicians make an accurate diagnosis. Herpes zoster typically affects the trunk area and buttocks, but it can appear on the arms or legs as well--even the sides of the neck or face and around the eyes. A very small cluster of blisters can result in untenable pain. It is extremely important to note that someone with herpes zoster blisters can infect people who haven't been exposed to the varicella-zoster virus vis-a-vis physical contact--only the infected person won't get herpes zoster; they'll get full-fledged chicken pox.
Complications
Some people experience a condition called postherpetic neuralgia long after the zoster rash clears up. This condition results when nerve endings have been so damaged that they miscommunicate levels of pain experienced by the skin to the brain. A person with postherpetic neuralgia may experience intense pain simply through the contact of clothing on their skin. Herpes zoster can lead to more serious complications, including encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and permanent blindness, if the zoster rash occurs in the area of the eyes.
Treatment
An episode of herpes zoster resolves in a few weeks. However, a doctor can help the healing process along by prescribing certain medications and treatments. High doses of oral antivirals such as Zovirax, Valtrex and Famvir--the same medications used to treat genital herpes--reduce the duration and severity of the rash. Prednisone may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and risk of subsequent postherpetic neuralgia. In cases when a patient suffers very severe pain, prescription pain-killers are sometimes prescribed.
