Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a viral infection that is a reactivation of chicken pox. While the body is generally capable of fighting the chicken pox virus in youth, aging, disease, environmental stress, poor nutrition or medications like chemotherapy can reactivate the dormant virus. This condition is contagious and can result in painful symptoms, permanent nerve damage, secondary infections and irreversible eye damage. Shingles outbreaks can be especially dangerous for those who already suffer from autoimmune disorders, cancer or those who have received an organ transplant due to the suppressed condition of the immune system. It is critical to seek medical attention immediately upon the first sign of blisters in order to decrease your chances of permanent damages.
Antiviral Drug Therapy
Rapid action and antiviral medications are the keys to treating a shingles outbreak. Antiviral drugs often used to treat shingles include acyclovir, valcyclovir or famcyclovir. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke recommend an antiviral drug regimen with adjunctive methods for optimum pain defense and recovery. Blister pain should dissipate within three to five weeks, providing the treatment was swift and thorough. Antidepressants and anticonvulsant drugs may be added to antiviral therapies to reduce pain.
Eyedrops
Shingles can also attack the eyes, causing blisters on or inside the eyelid, damage to the cornea, swelling, glaucoma, cataracts and retinitis. Symptoms can range from facial blistering to swollen eyelids, eye pain, watery eyes, redness, sensitivity to light and blurred vision. A pattern often develops around affected nerves and the blisters can take one to five weeks to clear up completely. Eye drops are commonly prescribed to keep the eyes lubricated or numbed to lessen discomfort and pain.
Pain Medications
Pain medications used in the treatment of shingles can include over-the-counter acetaminophen for mild pain symptoms. Doctors may also prescribe stronger medications such as codeine. Doctors may decide to prescribe antihistamines or anti-inflammatory drugs in conjunction with painkillers in order to reduce itching and redness of the skin site and prevent the possibility of secondary infections from scratching.Not all treatment methods will work effectively, so several different approaches to drug therapy may need to be tried for this condition. It may take several attempts to reach a comfort level, and pain could last from months to years. In some situations, nerves are attacked by the virus, leaving behind permanent weakness and paralysis.
Complementary Therapies
In addition to antiviral medications, eye drops, and pain medications, doctors may recommend complementary therapies for shingles. Complementary therapies can include topical creams made from capsaicin, or extracts of red chili pepper, and alternative approaches. Other approaches can include acupuncture, biofeedback, and hypnotherapy performed by specialists in pain management. Acute neuralgia often accompanies a shingles outbreak. When this occurs, pain messengers in the brain signal waves of excruciating electrical volts throughout the body making skin sensitive to the touch. This can be debilitating but noninvasive methods to counter such signals may help.
