Herpes Zoster
GENERAL INFORMATION:
What is it? Herpes zoster is also known as "shingles." It is an infection of the skin. The virus lives in your central nervous system (CNS). The CNS includes the brain and the spinal cord. The brain and spinal cord connect to nerves in the skin and the rest of the body. People 50 years or older get herpes zoster most often. A person who has not had chickenpox, can get chickenpox from you if you have shingles. You can have shingles more than once.
Causes: A germ, called varicella (vair-ih-chell-uh), causes both chickenpox and shingles. This germ can infect you but not cause any symptoms. This is called lying "dormant." The virus can become active at any time, causing symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms:
- You will have small fluid-filled blisters on red skin. The blisters usually appear in a wide band on one side of your body. This is because they are following the path of a nerve, making the skin near it very tender. The sores may take a few hours to a few days to show up. You may also have chills, fever, or nausea. You may have pain in your abdomen (belly), chest, or face.
- Your skin may feel like it's burning. Pain may be constant or come and go. It usually lasts for 3 to 5 weeks until the rash is gone. Some people have pain, itching, or burning of the skin for many months or sometimes years.
Care:
- You may use ibuprofen (i-bew-pro-fin) and acetaminophen (uh-c-tuh-min-o-fin) for fever and to lessen pain. These may be bought as over-the-counter medicine at grocery stores and drug stores. Do not take ibuprofen if you are allergic to aspirin, have ulcers, or kidney disease. Other medicine may be used to treat the infection or to lessen pain.
- Use heat to lessen pain. Heat brings blood to the area and helps it heal faster. Use a heating pad (turned on low), a hot water bottle, or sit in a warm water bath. Do this for 10 to 20 minutes out of every hour for as long as you need it. Do not sleep on the heating pad or hot water bottle. This can cause a bad burn.
- Do not bandage the sores.
- When bathing, wash blisters gently. Do not open the blisters because this could lead to infection.
- Until the rash is healed, avoid people who have not had chickenpox or who are sick.
Call Caregivers If:
- You have problems seeing.
- Your pain does not get better, even with treatment.
- You get new or unexplained symptoms.
Seek Care Immediately If:
- You become confused, get neck stiffness, have trouble walking or moving muscles.
- You get blisters on your eye or eyelids.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
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