Shingles - symptoms, treatment

Shingles is a disease caused by the herpes simplex virus type 3 (varicella zoster virus). At the first ingression into the human body this virus causes varicella, after transferring which it passes into a latent state, being in nerve cells.

After several years and even decades, the virus can become more active, causing skin infection. Why and how the varicella-zoster virus passes from sleeping to active is still unknown. Consider the main symptoms of herpes zoster and the methods of its treatment.

Attributes of herpes zoster

Shingles in a person can manifest in one of the following clinical forms:

1. Gangliococcus is characterized by a sharp onset with a general malaise and fever, skin rashes, which is preceded by itching and burning pain. Rashes at first are pink spots, which after 18 to 24 hours are covered with painful vesicles with liquid contents, are located more often on the chest in the course of individual sensitive nerves.
2. Ear and eye - the rash is localized on the mucous membranes of the eye, nose, on the skin of the face, the auricle; before their occurrence there is a fever, a condition of the general intoxication.
3. Gangrenous - manifested by deep lesions of the skin with its necrosis and the formation of scars.
4. Meningoencephalitic - characterized by severe course, begins ganglionic manifestations, further affects the brain, movement is disturbed, hallucinations occur.
5. Disseminated - the rash spreads to different parts of the body.

The most common ganglionic form of the disease.

It is established that shingles occur when the immune forces weaken, which can be caused by leukemia, cancer, chronic stress, HIV infection, age-related immunity decline, etc.

Consequences of herpes zoster

After the disease, some people have a so-called postherpetic neuralgia, when pain and itching with shingles last for months and even years.

There are also possible various complications. For example, with lesions of the motor branches, paralysis may occur, with an ear form - paralysis of the facial nerve, with eye damage - eye damage. There is a possibility of occurrence of viral pneumonia, hepatitis , diseases of the bladder, etc. In the rash area, when bacterial infection joins, suppuration occurs.

How to cure shingles?

The course of uncomplicated disease lasts, on average, 3-4 weeks. As a rule, recovery comes on its own even in the absence of treatment. However, in order to prevent the development of complications and alleviate the symptoms of herpes zoster, drug treatment is carried out using antiviral, analgesic drugs, vitamins, sometimes antibiotics, treatment of rashes.

Known and folk remedies for the treatment of herpes zoster. Here are the recipes of some of them:

1. Ointment from shingles . Mix a teaspoon of instant coffee, two crushed cloves of garlic, a tablespoon of honey and cornmeal, and 100 ml of yogurt. Lubricate rashes several times a day.
2. Gadgets . Prepare a decoction: 20 grams of herb rue, fenugreek seed, rhizome root and grass ruta pour a liter of water and boil on low heat for half an hour. Apply a lotion of gauze, soaked in a decoction, to the affected area.
3. Compresses . Fresh leaves of burdock pour boiling water for 15 minutes, apply on the area of ​​rashes at night.

Prophylaxis of herpes zoster

To prevent the onset of the disease, it is necessary to take measures to strengthen immunity , tempering the body. People of advanced age who are most susceptible to the disease should observe an active motor system and more often stay in the open air.