Best Treatment of Shingles
There is no cure for shingles. Treatment of shingles is usually aimed primarily to prevent the condition from getting worse and from complicating into other, more severe conditions.
Herpes Zoster, as shingles is it is medically known, is the recurrence of the chicken pox virus. It is described as a viral infection of the nerve roots. It causes pain and rashes or lesions in a certain part of the body. Shingles are most common in people aged 50 and above. Also, people who have a weak immune system, stressed and those who have an existing autoimmune disease are most likely to contract shingles.
For treatment of shingles, doctors simply prescribe antiviral medications as initial treatment. Corticosteroids are also used in conjunction with antivirals in order to reduce the pain and inflammation.
Here are the most common medications used to initially treat shingles.
- Antiviral medications – Over the counter pain medications- for relief of pain during attack of shingles – Corticosteroids- reduce inflammation and pain – Topical antibiotics- they are applied directly to the skin and are used for the stop infection of the blisters
In case your shingles condition does not subside after a month of treatment, consult your doctor immediately. This may be one of the complications of shingles called postherpetic neuralgia. It can cause pain up for months or years even after the lesions and rashes are gone. It affects approximately 10 to 15 percent of those who suffer shingles. Postherpetic neuralgia is characterized by extreme pain, headaches and nerve problems that may even last for up to several months or even years.
Here are the medications used to treat postherpetic neuralgia.
- Antidepressant or anticonvulsant medications – Topical anesthetics like lidocaine patches for pain relief
You are most likely to prevent further complications like postherpetic neuralgia with early treatment of shingles. On worst-case scenarios, a surgical procedure to that involves the cutting of the nerves to block pain signals is used to treat postherpetic neuralgia.
Other complications and its treatment:
- Disseminated zoster- it can affect a large portion of the body like the intestinal tract, pancreas, heart, lungs, liver and joints. It is a very rare case and treatment includes the use of antiviral medications and antibiotics. – Herpes zoster ophthalmicus- this involves rash or lesions on the nose, cheeks, foreheads, or around the eye. If this occurs, then you have to visit an ophthalmologist immediately. Treatment includes having a good rest, antiviral and cool compresses. – In rare cases, shingles can sometimes affect the nerves of the brain (cranial nerve). When this happens, serious complications involving the nose, eyes, face and brain can develop. Treatment is aimed on the nature and location of the complication.
Early treatment of shingles is crucial in preventing complications. Take note that a delay in treatment may cause to more problems and further complications that are harder to treat.
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