Shingles by any other name is still Herpes
No one likes to hear the word "herpes" mentioned during a medical visit, since it tends have all of those negative sexual connotations. I rarely just blurt it out to patients. We use those nicer words for herpes: shingles, chicken pox, cold sores, or fever blisters.
Chicken pox, a herpes viral infection, was once considered a rite of passage for most children. Now, the routine varicella vaccine will prevent most of these cases, and even protect you against shingles. No one seems pay attention to cold sores, another herpes-type infection. Shingles will make a person take notice.
Shingles by any other name is still a form of herpes. There are many different kinds of herpetic infections, but questions regarding plain 'ol Shingles is one of the most frequent postings that occur on the WebMD General Health Board. Why?
Because in the United States, nearly 100% of adults have detectable herpes antibodies by the time they are 30 years old. Humans are the only source of infection, so we caught it from someone. In other words, nearly all of us have already been exposed and have the latent virus present in our bodies. The virus is just hanging around, living quietly in a nerve bundle, and suppressed by our immune systems.
For the vast majority of people, this virus will remain dormant for our lifetime. As we age or our immunity status changes, up to 10-20% of the population may experience the pain of herpes zoster (shingles). More than 66% of the people who develop herpes zoster are over the age of fifty; about five percent of the cases occur in children under the age of 15. Over a half of a million people will get herpes zoster this year in the U.S. In people who are immune compromised by HIV or undergoing cancer treatment with chemotherapy or radiation, the risk of getting herpes zoster increases eight-fold and can cause fatal complications.
If you have had chicken pox in your lifetime, you are considered immune just to chicken pox. Getting exposed to this herpes virus again may trigger activation and lead to a nasty case of shingles. Think about that when you send your child with chicken pox over to Grandma's house. Chicken pox is VERY contagious. Herpes Zoster is only about a third as contagious.
Herpes zoster involves nerve pathways. In the first stage of the illness, people will experience strange nerve pain, such as burning, stabbing, prickly, numb, or tingling. Some people complain that the area itches intensely. People may also experience headaches, malaise, or flu-like symptoms. No matter what, the early symptoms of herpes zoster certainly get your attention for about 3-5 days (sometimes as long as two weeks) before the characteristic skin blisters develop.
The skin lesions of herpes follow a nerve pathway and appear as groups or clusters of tiny, clear blisters (vesicles), often with an angry red or bluish base. Because zoster follows a nerve pathway and nerves do not cross the midline of the body, zoster will occur on just one side of your chest...your face...or your back...your leg...or your butt. Less commonly, they can occur in your mouth, your ear (Ramsay Hunt Syndrome) or genital area. A serious, sight-threatening form can involve the eye and always requires an immediate consultation with an ophthalmologist.
The typical course of a herpes zoster infection lasts two to three weeks, assuming you have a good immune system, but there is always a risk of developing PHN - Post-Herpetic Neuralgia. PHN is nerve pain that persists long after the zoster has resolved and is more prevalent in the elderly or people with eye involvement. Herpes zoster, like a bad relative, can also show up again and again throughout your lifetime.
Antiviral drugs like acyclovir and others may reduce the severity of herpes zoster it taken early. Pain medications are usually necessary. Moist dressings of water or saline can be soothing and help the inevitable pain. Capsaicin cream (made from the hottest chili peppers!) is also used for managing the pain of PHN.
Herpes zoster is incurable, but it is treatable. And, many herpes infections, like chicken pox, it is preventable by vaccine.
Related Links: Herpes Viruses (Including the Chickenpox Virus) and the Eyes, Shingles Vaccine Works In Large Study
Technorati Tags: shingles, cold sores, fever blisters, chickenpox, herpes
Chicken pox, a herpes viral infection, was once considered a rite of passage for most children. Now, the routine varicella vaccine will prevent most of these cases, and even protect you against shingles. No one seems pay attention to cold sores, another herpes-type infection. Shingles will make a person take notice.
Shingles by any other name is still a form of herpes. There are many different kinds of herpetic infections, but questions regarding plain 'ol Shingles is one of the most frequent postings that occur on the WebMD General Health Board. Why?
Because in the United States, nearly 100% of adults have detectable herpes antibodies by the time they are 30 years old. Humans are the only source of infection, so we caught it from someone. In other words, nearly all of us have already been exposed and have the latent virus present in our bodies. The virus is just hanging around, living quietly in a nerve bundle, and suppressed by our immune systems.
For the vast majority of people, this virus will remain dormant for our lifetime. As we age or our immunity status changes, up to 10-20% of the population may experience the pain of herpes zoster (shingles). More than 66% of the people who develop herpes zoster are over the age of fifty; about five percent of the cases occur in children under the age of 15. Over a half of a million people will get herpes zoster this year in the U.S. In people who are immune compromised by HIV or undergoing cancer treatment with chemotherapy or radiation, the risk of getting herpes zoster increases eight-fold and can cause fatal complications.
If you have had chicken pox in your lifetime, you are considered immune just to chicken pox. Getting exposed to this herpes virus again may trigger activation and lead to a nasty case of shingles. Think about that when you send your child with chicken pox over to Grandma's house. Chicken pox is VERY contagious. Herpes Zoster is only about a third as contagious.
Herpes zoster involves nerve pathways. In the first stage of the illness, people will experience strange nerve pain, such as burning, stabbing, prickly, numb, or tingling. Some people complain that the area itches intensely. People may also experience headaches, malaise, or flu-like symptoms. No matter what, the early symptoms of herpes zoster certainly get your attention for about 3-5 days (sometimes as long as two weeks) before the characteristic skin blisters develop.
The skin lesions of herpes follow a nerve pathway and appear as groups or clusters of tiny, clear blisters (vesicles), often with an angry red or bluish base. Because zoster follows a nerve pathway and nerves do not cross the midline of the body, zoster will occur on just one side of your chest...your face...or your back...your leg...or your butt. Less commonly, they can occur in your mouth, your ear (Ramsay Hunt Syndrome) or genital area. A serious, sight-threatening form can involve the eye and always requires an immediate consultation with an ophthalmologist.
The typical course of a herpes zoster infection lasts two to three weeks, assuming you have a good immune system, but there is always a risk of developing PHN - Post-Herpetic Neuralgia. PHN is nerve pain that persists long after the zoster has resolved and is more prevalent in the elderly or people with eye involvement. Herpes zoster, like a bad relative, can also show up again and again throughout your lifetime.
Antiviral drugs like acyclovir and others may reduce the severity of herpes zoster it taken early. Pain medications are usually necessary. Moist dressings of water or saline can be soothing and help the inevitable pain. Capsaicin cream (made from the hottest chili peppers!) is also used for managing the pain of PHN.
Herpes zoster is incurable, but it is treatable. And, many herpes infections, like chicken pox, it is preventable by vaccine.
Related Links: Herpes Viruses (Including the Chickenpox Virus) and the Eyes, Shingles Vaccine Works In Large Study
Technorati Tags: shingles, cold sores, fever blisters, chickenpox, herpes
46 Comments:
I appreciate the info, but please touch on the paralysis. The left side of my face was covered with sores and my tongue was split in half with one half normal and the other half blistered. My jaw feels paralysed and it is 6 weeks ag that the blisters cleared up. I look like I have Bells Paulsy. How long will this last?
I'm not sure of the pain associated with PHN but I can surely testify to the severe itching that will not allow you to sleep, wear clothing comfortably or just sit for an extended period of time. My epidemic first occurred in 1997, though today I do not get the cluster of blisters unless I am stressed or not getting enough sleep the situation with the itching is still as intense as day 1 ten years ago.
can a person get the Shingles more than once?
I might have been infected with hiv about four months ago and all of a sudden I have shingles. Could that be related? Could I be showing sytoms this soon?
Can the vaccine be given after having an outbreak of shingles (ear)? If so, how long should you wait before getting it?
how can a 5yr old chold who recieved the chicken pox vaccine, get diagnosed with shingles?
my 11 year old daughter who was vacinated for chicken pox has a terrible case of shingles in her eyes and face. it's been 10 days since it started. seen cornea specialist her gave her anti viral medicine. how long will it last and what about scarring?
my husband on his left eye has blisters and his eye is all swollen! And when it leaks it leaves even more blisters where ever it leaks! Also he has extreme shooting pain in his eye and really bad headache only on the left half of his head...is this shingles or herpes zoster?
I was diagnosed with Post-Herpetic Neuralgia three months ago. I'm eighteen and nothing works. Does anyone have any answers that will help the pain?
eugcyxI contracted Herpes in 1969. At That time no one knew what it was. At first the lesions were in my genital area. It first found out what Herpys was from an article in playboy. My outbreakes now occure on my lower back. This change of outbreak location occured about 20 years ago around 1987. My outbreaks are brutal sometimes the neoropathy lasts for months. On my back at my belt loop leval is a cluster of permenant scars. I find that a regiment of 5mg valium 2X per day + lots of L-Lysine helps keep the number of attacks per year down. But I still get at least 4 attacks per year.
I have been diagnosed with Herpes, the weird thing is that I get them on different parts of my body and hardly genital. When i was diagnosed it was full blown genital. Is there any way to treat them they are not very pleasing to look at. I get them on my hands, ears, legs and lower and upper back HELP!!!
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My five year old son was diagnosed with shingles. The strange thing is he has had the chicken pox vaccine. The dermatologist that diagnosed him says she is seeing alot of these cases in children who have had the vaccination for chickenpox that have be exposed to chickenpox. My son is in a lot of pain. I would have rather he got chicken pox.
my children were recently diagnosed with chicken pox even though they were given the vaccine as babies. now i appear to have the same thing but their pediatrician told me it was shingles. after all my research so far i haven't been able to conclude that someone can get shingles from being around a child with chicken pox. True?
To the anonymous commenter above, here is an excerpt from Dr. Moser's post:
If you have had chicken pox in your lifetime, you are considered immune just to chicken pox. Getting exposed to this herpes virus again may trigger activation and lead to a nasty case of shingles. Think about that when you send your child with chicken pox over to Grandma's house. Chicken pox is VERY contagious. Herpes Zoster is only about a third as contagious.
The Herpes Zoster virus causes both chicken pox and shingles.
I'm 18 years old and have had shingles 5 times in three months. The first time I had it I was seventeen and I'd get it and then it would go away and a week later I'd get it again. The pattern continued four more times, and it finaly went away until about six months ago. I can still feel the shooting pain through my left arm and hand. Sometimes my hand even shakes a little. Will it ever go away?
I had shingles about 2 years ago on the right side of my face. It shot intense pain starting in the middle of my chin to the top of my head. Just on the right side. I got the worse headaches with unbearable pain. nothing helped. to this day i still have terrable itching on my forehead at times and continue to have horrable headaches. could these issues be related?
I have a recurring tormenting rash that dermotologists have been unable to diagnose. I've been through allergy tests, a biopsy of one of the bumps, experimental diets, and a wide variety of treatments, none of which has truly helped. A recent blood test revealed that my level for HSV 1 was extremely high (I think 49 when the max was supposed to be 8); my HSV 2 levels came back normal. I am wondering if HSV 1 has ever been known to cause a rash. I have CMV and have had various health issues due to that virus. I'm just at my wit's end because when the rash shows back up, the pain and itching are unstoppable.
Your sight said and I have heard other physicians say that having shingles on both sides does not happen. That is not true. I have shingles on both sciatic nerves/buttocks and both sides have been biopsied. I had shingles first in my throat as a teen I am now 63 and have them constantly. They will be dormant perhaps 4-5 days sometimes 2-weeks but they are always there under the skin and if I get upset or tired or stressed in any way the process begins anew and we all know life can be tiring and stressing so I guess that's why they are always with me?
First the severe burning, aching, itching deep inside, always at the same spots and then the fever and chills to where my teeth chatter and flu-like feeling and then usually after 3-5 days finally some relief when they erupt. With each occassion there are usually new ones that join the picnic. I have them on both sciatic nerves and my spine and there numerous ones under my scalp that have not erupted but a few that have and also across my forehead and down left side to bottom of left ear. Using the common drugs does not help because I have had them for so long in fact it makes the pain much worse because it takes longer for them to erupt. Capsasin cream directly in to the exposed nerve is some relief and pain patches but I have nerve damage now and do walk with cane before some eruptions and bedfast before some eruptions then afterwards get some relief. I stay home a lot and wear hanging dresses, no underweaar and rest as much as possible and take Darvocet only because I know this is going to get much worse as I get older and don't want to do heavy duty drugs now. I had had open heart surgery in 2000 and have been told that perhaps made my case much more severe as local physicians cannot believe what they see and the frequency they see it. Do you have any suggestions why this is happening or what relief if any there is for continual shingles?
Thanks for listening.
When I wake up in the morning my eyes are sensitive and they feel like they have something in my eyes. After about 5 minutes of being awake it goes away, what is it? I get cold sores on my lips, is this a form of herpes in my eyes?
ronda,
The only way to answer your question is to have your eyes examined by a qualified professional in person. I did find this guide to herpes and the eye for you to read also.
Take care!
Does anyone know if one can experience the tingling and pain that occurs prior to the blisters breaking out - without the blisters breaking out?
I have a case of shingles, which is about three weeks in. It's healing nicely enough, but about three days ago, my left ear (The side that the breakout was on) has this odd ringing constantly. It hurts when I chew, or speak.. or even when I open my mouth the tiniest bit.
Sometimes, it dies down, but then it goes up, usually at night. At first, I thought that I could sleep it off, but I'd only wake up to not being able to hear very well. I'm not sure if it's necessary to see a doctor, but I also heard that it could cause permanent hearing loss or brain damage, if it was the shingles. Help?
I was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt in November of last year and most of the paralysis is gone but I have been left with stroke like symptoms. Balance is not good and I have trouble with thought processing. Is this common and does it ever get better or worse? I seem to get exagerated symptoms when tired or stressed.
I need to know if shingles will cross the forehead? Mine started behind my left ear, up the side of my head across the forehead down the right side of my head and ended behind my right ear. The dermatologist said it can't be shingles because shingles does not cross the middle of the body. My internist says it has to be. This is the 3rd time it has happened and it is always the same.
I was dx. with Ramsay-Hunt a year ago. Am still experiencing balance problems, loss of taste in my mouth, right eye does not blink or tear, some problems with thought processing. I had a weight implanted in my eyelid to help with the blink- much relief from discomfort of dry eye. Would recommend this simple procedure. My 13 yr. old son contacted chicken pox from me during the shingles outbreak though he had been vaccinated for chicken pox.
Doctors don't seem to know too much about prognosis of this syndrome. Time will tell... they say. My recommedation, pray to the Great Physician, the Lord Jesus Christ!
My boyfriend developed a painful throat infection which contains some sort of white patches near his tonsils. He cannot swallow and has trouble eating and drinking. He cannot swallow his spit and has to sleep with a towel underneath him...the doctors couldn't diagnose his problem.. what could this be?
Can you you get shingles on your head? I have two very ditictive spots on the right side of my head that are extremly tender to the touch. There is also intermittant pain I would discribe as poking. The pains also develop into a head ache. This has lastes approx. 2 1/2months. There is no rash or lesions.
I am 24 and at this very second am infected with shingles... it is horribly painful! yesterday i left work to go to the emergency room thinking of all it could be. It first started in my ear about a week ago, i thought i had an ear infection then days later my eye hurt, and i thought it was a sty "except my whole eye hurt, it wasn't pain from one spot.' it wasn't till i got the sharp tingling pain "which felt somewhat like falling head first into redwood chips on my forehead" i couldn't place the pain then a day or so later a quarter size bump appeared.... so now i was nervous all these things had to be related the night before i decided i had to go to the emergency room .. because i also had a gland in front of my ear lobe swollen and then noticed another swollen gland below my jaw and ANOTHER BUMP on my neck which is a gland ....the worst part it the pain! i called in my local hospital in tears and they said come in at 10:30am if i came in early they would try to get my in sooner this being 8:50am i got there nearly ten minutes early and sat in the waiting room for nearly an HOUR crying from the pain! I just walked out and had my boyfriend leave work as i had to drive me 1 hour and fifteen minutes away to the next hospital ! the pain is just horrible the whole right side of my head hurts and my forehead swollen with blisters throbbing stabbing needle pricks i my head if i make any expression ill regret it majorly~ i cant even sleep on my right side :( my boyfriends grandma had it years ago on her head 2. i wouldnt wish this to anyone. and im still mad at the so called emergency assistance at the hospital here! HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST LIKE THE PAIN!!!!!! i am a healthy fit young women no diseases or STD"S i had the chicken pox is all i never even had a cold soar before. i didnt even get ill this winter i did last winter and that year i HAD A FLU SHOT !!!!!
pcwabjzI am 24 and at this very second am infected with shingles... it is horribly painful! yesterday i left work to go to the emergency room thinking of all it could be. It first started in my ear about a week ago, i thought i had an ear infection then days later my eye hurt, and i thought it was a sty "except my whole eye hurt, it wasn't pain from one spot.' it wasn't till i got the sharp tingling pain "which felt somewhat like falling head first into redwood chips on my forehead" i couldn't place the pain then a day or so later a quarter size bump appeared.... so now i was nervous all these things had to be related the night before i decided i had to go to the emergency room .. because i also had a gland in front of my ear lobe swollen and then noticed another swollen gland below my jaw and ANOTHER BUMP on my neck which is a gland ....the worst part it the pain! i called in my local hospital in tears and they said come in at 10:30am if i came in early they would try to get my in sooner this being 8:50am i got there nearly ten minutes early and sat in the waiting room for nearly an HOUR crying from the pain! I just walked out and had my boyfriend leave work as i had to drive me 1 hour and fifteen minutes away to the next hospital ! the pain is just horrible the whole right side of my head hurts and my forehead swollen with blisters throbbing stabbing needle pricks i my head if i make any expression ill regret it majorly~ i cant even sleep on my right side :( my boyfriends grandma had it years ago on her head 2. i wouldnt wish this to anyone. and im still mad at the so called emergency assistance at the hospital here! HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST LIKE THE PAIN!!!!!! i am a healthy fit young woman no diseases or STD"S i had the chicken pox is all i never even had a cold soar before. i didnt even get ill this winter i did last winter and that year i HAD A FLU SHOT !!!!!
OH YEAH TRY THIS FOR PAIN " -LANACANE- MAXIMUM STRENGHT ANESTHETIC/ANTISEPTIC ANTI-BACTERIAL FIRST AID SPRAY FOR SUNBURNS SCRAPES CUTS ITCHY BITES AND POISON IVY/OAK HELPS PREVENT INFECTION PLUS VITAMIN E & ALOE VERA COOLS INSTANTLY FAST DRYING " THIS IS GOOOOOOOOD HELPS EASE THE SURFACE PAIN ALOT I SWEAR
i have a small patch on my lower back this is the third time in the same spot itches bad than breaks out in small blisters is this herpes... skin scared also..........HELP
i have a small patch on my left arm. it kinda looks like some kind of bacteria rash. but it itches real bad, it dont hurt, just itches. and i imagine that its gonna scar. HELP ME PLZ
I have a small patch of liquid filled blisters on my lower back (center area where belt sits). This is not the first time this has happened. Before the blisters form my skin is painful, and when the blisters form it is itchy. I always get this in the same spot...what is this? Also I have this "burning" feeling on my butt and legs before the breakout...
does anyone no of any instances were long after the shingles are gone that spots occur on your right templor lobe of the brain?? my dad had shingles i think it was about 10 years ago and he had it all over his body, well last year the doctors find some black spots on his right templor lobe well they ruled out cancer and a tumor. But i read somewere in one case that someone had shingles and after about a few years they started having symptons of brain cancer but the doctor said no it wasnt then he found it that the shingles had spread onto his right templor lobe so if anybody could give me insight on this i would be very very greatfull
first of all this sounds silly but i promiss it works for itching ready VICKS vapor rub we use it for chickenpox, poision ivy mesqueto bites it just works. now my question i have been exposed to chicken pox dozens of times when my kids got them my dr. was worried because i'd never had them. i ran a daycare the pox worked its way though every child but not me. so i'm thinking maybe because i have always had cold sores real bad ones as a child turned to inventigo. is this the reason i never got/get the pox?
For the past 2 years I have been agonised by sores on my lips, cheeks and deep split on my tongue. I was hospitalized for three weeks after I had gotten very weak. I was treated with many different kinds of drugs which were all futile. The first set of splits healed but were not closed up. now there are new ones coming out. This painfull never ending exposure is unbearable. someone please advise and help.mabrala
Can you spread Shingles? If you scratch the blisters and don't wash your hands and touch another part of your body can the virus then appear in that area?
I've never had the chicken pox. I have pain in the left side of my face and scalp. They are treating me for shingles. I have no rach. Could this be from the cold sores I get instead of the pox??? Should I see another doctor???
Am 66 yr old F. Never chicken pox or others and never colds or flu, just whooping cough. Diagnosed with shingles on 5th day of rash. Had already treated redness with Prosacea (sulfur) and it lessened. NEVER NEVER HAD ANY PAIN!! All I've read says always pain? True or just me? AND WHY?
I'm sorry, but shingles is not just another word for Herpes. Yes the medicine to treat it is the same, because it is the same strand, but it is contracted in very different ways. Herpes is contracted through sexual activity, sharing fluids by mouth, and what not. Shingles is often contracted by YOUR GENES. More easily defined, it is the adult form of Chicken Pox, which also is NOT herpes. Shingles, for me, was brought on by stress when my husband deployed to Iraq. Not after a night of sleeping with a bunch of different men, or sharing drinks with someone who had oral herpes. Thank you for the info, but Herpes and Shingles are two separate illnesses, hence the two different names, and two totally different descriptions.
Zostavax is only licensed for shingles prevention in people ages 60 and over. Varivax for chicken pox is a lower dosage of the same live vector. Have any young adults or people under 60 had successful help from either vaccine after experiencing shingles outbreaks?
Herpes comes in difference forms. Hence: Shingles is Herpes Zoster. Cold sores are Herpes Simplex. I have had Herpes Zoster 4 times, and it does cross the axiom in extreme cases. Yes, tingling and blisters are prevalent before onset, and painful sharp pains should follow for up to 8 weeks. ----Do not post to anyone if you have not seen more than 3 doctors regarding this topic--- you are misinforming many people and you should be ashamed for misleading them. Thank you, and God bless those who are inflicted - it will pass. Be strong and it will pass.
I appreciate the general description, but am neither more informed for the effort. Lectures on ethics and morality have their place elsewhere, but I was under the impression that comments here were intended to share relevant and helpful information. I asked a direct question, so please only reply if you have a real account or data to share. I work in the vaccine industry and am well voiced in medical literature. The young adult population afflicted with shingles is under investigated and I have concern for a dear friend. I appreciate any help that those of you can provide, but please keep lectures to yourself as no misinformation was provided. I am open to help others should they have questions. Best of luck.
For 1 year I have suffered with multiples tests trying to figure out why I feel the way I do. I have had numbness and tingling on the left side of my body. Burning sensation on chest all without outbreak. I have undergone tests such as MRI of Spine, MRI of Brain, Chest Xrays, tested for lupus, MS, possible stroke. All of which turned out negative. I had blood work up on Varicella Zoster Positive...I have not broke out in any blisters. However the pain has been so bad for 8 months..I have been thinking it is Heartattack, Cancer...but turned out positive for Varicella Zoster (Shingles/Herpes) I have been a healthy mom of 4, Do not understand if this is truely what I have why no blisters or breakout???
my 70 year old dad is in the hospital with pains on the left side of his head & constant headaches. He had pus-filled scabs on his face, which the doctor cut into. The doctor is stumped & thinks this is staph infection. What does anyone else think?
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