Shingles Symptoms in Adults!
Shingles Symptoms in Adults
What is Shingles?
Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you have had chickenpox, the virus remains inactive in your nerve tissues.
Shingles Symptoms in Adults
Shingles symptoms in adults can range from mild to severe pain. Some of the most common symptoms of shingles include:
- Pain: Severe burning and tingling pain is the most common symptom of shingles. The pain is usually located in a band or strip on one side of the body.
- Rashes or blisters: A rash consisting of fluid-filled blisters usually appears several days after the onset of pain.
- Fever: Shingles can also cause fever, chills, headache, nausea, and fatigue.
- Itching: Some people may also experience an itching or tingling sensation in the area where the rash will appear.
Complications
Complications can occur with shingles, including:
- Nerve pain: This is called post-herpetic neuralgia, and it can last for months or even years.
- Eyes: Shingles can cause inflammation of the eyes, which can lead to vision loss.
- Skin infections: If the blisters are broken and become infected, an infection of the skin may occur.
- Other infections: Rarely, shingles can cause a form of meningitis, encephalitis, and pneumonia.
Treatment
The main treatment for shingles is antiviral medication. This medication can help reduce the severity and duration of the symptoms and may also help prevent complications. Your doctor may also recommend topical creams, gels, or ointments to relieve the pain. In addition, they may suggest other treatments such as pain medications, light therapy, and stress reduction techniques, to help manage the pain associated with shingles.
If you suspect that you have shingles, contact your healthcare provider right away. They can diagnose and provide treatment to help reduce the severity of your symptoms.
