| Shingles also known as herpes zostrer. | | | | cleansing. Avoid contact with the skin |
| Shingles is a same virus that causes | | | | lesions of persons with known herpes zoster |
| chickenpox. Shingles can cause several | | | | infection. Cool wet compresses can be used to |
| problems with the eye and surrounding skin | | | | reduce pain. Soothing baths and lotions, such |
| that may have long term effects. Inflammation | | | | as colloidal oatmeal bath, starch baths, or |
| and scarring of the cornea, along with | | | | lotions and calamine lotion, may help to |
| conjunctivitis (inflammation of the | | | | relieve itching and discomfort. Trim |
| conjunctiva) and iritis (inflammation of the | | | | fingernails to reduce the chance of bacterial |
| iris) are typical problems. Shingles | | | | infection from scratching. Avoid wearing |
| manifests as a vesicular rash, usually in a | | | | tight clothing over the rash because this |
| single dermatome. Development of the rash may | | | | could irritate the rash. Avoid exposure to |
| be preceded by paresthesias or pain along the | | | | warm and hot water because this could lead to |
| involved dermatome. Ocular involvement and | | | | further itching. |
| zoster keratitis may result if reactivation | | | | |
| occurs along the ophthalmic division of the | | | | Shingles Treatment and Prevention Tips |
| trigeminal nerve. A pproximately 95% of | | | | |
| adults in the United States have antibodies | | | | 1. Antidepressant medicines, such as a |
| to the varicella-zoster virus. Approximately | | | | tricyclic antidepressant. |
| 80% of cases occur in persons older than 20 | | | | |
| years. Shingles may be associated with a | | | | 2. Topical anesthetics, such as lidocaine |
| secondary bacterial infection (typically | | | | patches, to numb the area. |
| streptococcal or staphylococcal) of the | | | | |
| vesicular rash. Shingles may be complicated | | | | 3. Anticonvulsant medicines, such as |
| by a condition known as post-herpetic | | | | gabapentin or pregabalin. |
| neuralgia. Shingles causes a wide range of | | | | |
| problems affecting the skin and the eye. | | | | 4. Calamine lotion may help to soothe the |
| Shingles involving the second branch of the | | | | rash. |
| trigeminal nerve may be associated with | | | | |
| conjunctivitis, keratitis, corneal | | | | 5. Capsaicin is also growing in popularity as |
| ulceration, iridocyclitis, glaucoma, and | | | | a pain treatment |
| blindness. Shingles is treated with | | | | |
| anti-viral, pain and anti-inflammatory | | | | 6. Apply cool compresses over the zoster |
| medications. Eye drops and ointments may be | | | | lesions or take a cool bath twice a day. |
| prescribed to treat ocular problems. | | | | |
| Cimetidine, a common component of | | | | 7. Avoid exposure to warm and hot water |
| over-the-counter heartburn medication. | | | | because this could lead to further itching. |
| Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, may | | | | |
| occasionally be used to reduce inflammation | | | | 8. Cover shingles lesions with a clean cloth |
| and risk of post-herpetic neuralgia. | | | | or loose-fitting gauze after cleansing. |
| | | | |
| Treatment with famciclovir (Famvir) may | | | | 9. Trim fingernails to reduce the chance of |
| significantly reduce pain and hasten recovery | | | | bacterial infection from scratching. |
| from an acute attack. Topical creams | | | | |
| containing capsaicin may provide some relief | | | | 10. Avoid wearing tight clothing over the |
| from pain. Cover shingles lesions with a | | | | rash because this could irritate the rash. |
| clean cloth or loose-fitting gauze after | | | | |