Shingles and Possible Complications

Shingles and Possible Complications

Anyone who has ever had chickenpox can later develop shingles. Both diseases are caused by the same viruses, known as varicella-zoster viruses. After the chickenpox infection, these viruses remain in the body. Many years later, they can become active again and cause shingles, a skin rash usually characterized by painful blisters that often appear in stripes and usually on only one side of the body.

Shingles can often lead to complications, so if you suspect you have this condition, it's essential to consult a doctor. You can also seek treatment for this condition in the best clinics in Switzerland. Treatment in Switzerland always offers a high-quality and modern approach to treating viral diseases.

Shingles is a relatively common disease, especially among the elderly. It can be very uncomfortable, but if there are no complications, it typically resolves within 2 to 4 weeks.

What is Shingles?

Shingles is the most common acute skin disease. It's crucial to recognize and treat it promptly. In 80 percent of cases, the disease initially presents with severe pain. Later, a blistering skin rash usually develops in the area of the pain, which can spread like a belt. It's important that the symptoms always occur on one side of the body, never crossing the midline.

In principle, shingles can occur on any part of the body, with the chest and torso often being affected. Typically, only a specific area of the body is affected.

Complications

Complications from shingles can include:

  • Postherpetic neuralgia: Some people experience pain from shingles long after the blisters have disappeared. This condition is known as postherpetic neuralgia. It occurs when damaged nerve fibers send confused and exaggerated pain signals from the skin to the brain.
  • Vision loss: Shingles in or around the eye (ophthalmic shingles) can cause painful eye infections that may lead to vision loss.
  • Neurological problems: Shingles can lead to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), facial nerve paralysis, or problems with hearing and balance.
  • Skin infections: If shingles blisters are not properly treated, bacterial skin infections can develop.

Treatment

Early diagnosis is crucial due

to the nonspecific nature of initial symptoms, which can make diagnosis difficult, especially in the early stages of the disease. However, it's essential to diagnose and start antiviral therapy as early as possible to reduce the risk of long-term consequences and complications. Therapy is most effective when initiated within the first three days (72 hours) after the rash appears. Therefore, it's recommended to seek medical help as soon as the first suspicions arise.

In most cases, specialists can easily identify shingles by examining the affected skin areas.

Several factors play a role in treatment:

  • The severity of the disease
  • The location of the affected body parts
  • The stage of skin changes
  • Any accompanying illnesses that particularly affect the immune system
  • The patient's age

For younger individuals, shingles on the torso, arms, or legs typically heal without problems. Elderly patients often experience severe and persistent pain. In addition to symptomatic therapy for skin changes and pain relief, antiviral therapy against the virus is usually applied, particularly in cases with large affected skin areas or critical areas such as around the eyes. Treatment should always be conducted in consultation with specialists.

Symptomatic treatment: Affected individuals take pain relievers to alleviate pain. If common active ingredients such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, and the like are insufficient, opioids (such as codeine and tramadol) can help. If blisters have not appeared on the skin, moist compresses can be beneficial. Drying mixtures or lotions work against fresh blisters. Solutions containing clioquinol are intended to prevent bacterial skin infections. Once the blisters have dissolved, suitable ointments can soften and reduce scabs.

Antiviral treatment: In mild cases, antiviral tablets are usually sufficient (most commonly with the active ingredient acyclovir). In severe cases, antiviral medications are administered via infusion for one to two weeks. Subsequent treatment may take place in a hospital setting. In cases where there is also a bacterial infection or when severe symptoms or a high risk of infection are suspected, patients often receive antibiotics.