What Is Shingles? What Causes Shingles?

What is shingles? What does shingles mean? What are the symptoms of shingles?

Shingles is a viral disease that causes painful rashes on the skin after the Varicella Zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox, becomes active in the body. The Varicella Zoster virus, which enters the body with chickenpox in childhood, is not completely eliminated from the body and remains dormant in the nerve roots. Although it does not show any symptoms during this inactive dormant state, years later, when the immune system is weakened, the virus can reactivate and lead to shingles.

The word "zona" comes from the Latin word meaning "belt" and is used for rashes that spread like a belt or band on the skin.

Shingles typically manifests as painful, burning, stinging, fluid-filled blisters that appear in a band-like pattern. Pain and a burning sensation begin in one area of the body and turn into rashes and blisters within a few days.

It is more likely to be seen in individuals with suppressed immune systems, those experiencing intense stress, and those with chronic diseases.

Shingles disease

What are the symptoms of shingles?

Shingles usually progresses in 3 stages. These stages are the initial, rash, and recovery stages. If we examine these stages in detail:

Initial stage (Prodromal stage)

• It manifests with mild fever and fatigue.

• A tingling, burning, and stinging sensation begins in a specific area of the skin.

• Pain is felt along the nerve in that region.

Rash stage

• Unilateral, band-like, red rashes begin.

• Fluid-filled blisters begin to appear.

• Severe pain is felt.

Recovery stage

• Fluid-filled blisters begin to dry and scab.

• Blisters usually disappear within 7-10 days.

• Healing may occur without scarring, but in some patients, pain may persist for a long time.

Is shingles dangerous?

Since shingles is a painful disease, it is very important to consult your doctor as soon as symptoms are felt and to start your treatment early.

If you start to feel pain, burning, and tingling in your skin that you haven't felt before, and if this is accompanied by fever and weakness, you should consult your family doctor or a dermatologist without delay.

If these symptoms are observed in the face area, especially around the eyes, doctor's supervision is necessary as soon as possible due to the risk of vision loss.

It is very important to receive the right treatment at the right time for shingles lesions to heal without leaving scars.

Even after recovering from shingles, ongoing pain (postherpetic neuralgia) may occur; in this case, you should consult your doctor urgently.

Is shingles contagious? How is shingles transmitted?

Shingles itself is not directly transmitted from one person to another. The virus that causes shingles and chickenpox is the same virus.

Therefore, individuals who have not previously had chickenpox or have not been vaccinated against chickenpox will first contract chickenpox if they come into contact with the virus in the rashes of a shingles patient.

Contact with pregnant women, newborns, and immunocompromised individuals should definitely be limited during this period.

The virus, which begins to wait silently in the nerve roots of the person who has had chickenpox, reactivates when the immune system weakens, and shingles appears.

In summary, shingles does not transmit directly from one person to another, but the virus that can first cause chickenpox and then shingles can transmit from person to person.

Individuals who have had chickenpox or have been vaccinated develop immunity to this virus, so they do not contract the disease from a shingles patient.

In a person with shingles, the virus is contagious until the skin rashes dry. Therefore:

• Shingles rashes should not be touched.

• Hands should be washed after contact.

• Contact with pregnant women, newborns, and immunocompromised individuals should be avoided.

After the rashes dry, you can continue your life as usual with your doctor's approval.

How does shingles pass? How long does it take for shingles to pass?

Early treatment is very important for shingles. You should consult your family doctor or dermatologist within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Blisters usually dry within 7-10 days, and the entire disease process is typically completed within 3-5 weeks.

However, in patients experiencing nerve pain, this healing period may be prolonged.

What medications are used for shingles?

Your doctor will prescribe antiviral medications for the treatment of this viral disease.

Antiviral medications slow the spread of the virus, prevent the progression of the disease, and reduce the likelihood of complications. Therefore, you should take the prescribed medications without interruption.

Your doctor will also prescribe painkillers for the pain associated with shingles. To protect against the side effects of painkillers and maintain your stomach health, you should follow your pharmacist's recommendations. The painkiller your doctor prescribes may vary depending on the severity of your pain.

Soothing lotions may also be prescribed for your skin lesions. To prevent transmission, you should not share the lotions or creams you use during your treatment with other family members.

Another effective prescription in your treatment will be rest. You should increase your body's resistance with sufficient sleep and a balanced diet, and support your immune system's fight against the virus.

What helps with persistent shingles pain?

Even after the shingles rash disappears, some individuals may experience nerve pain that lasts for weeks or even months. This condition is called postherpetic neuralgia.

Control of this pain may not be possible with every painkiller. Therefore, you should adhere to the treatment plan recommended by your doctor and not use cures, teas, or similar products not recommended by your doctor.

Which department treats shingles? Which department should be visited for shingles?

Your family doctor is the person who will make the initial diagnosis of shingles and direct you to a specialist. Consulting a dermatologist would also be appropriate. For shingles around the eyes and prolonged pain, your dermatologist may also refer you to ophthalmology or neurology departments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is shingles and how does it occur?

Shingles is a painful viral disease that occurs when the chickenpox virus (Varicella Zoster), which was dormant in the nerve roots after childhood chickenpox, reactivates when immunity is weakened. It manifests with band-like, fluid-filled blisters and a burning sensation on the skin.

Is shingles contagious?

Shingles is not directly transmitted to another person. However, individuals who have not previously had chickenpox or have not been vaccinated may contract chickenpox if they come into contact with the virus in shingles rashes. Contact and hygiene rules should be observed until the rashes dry.

How long does shingles take to pass and what is its treatment?

Blisters usually dry within 7–10 days, and the entire disease process takes 3–5 weeks. Treatment involves antiviral medications, painkillers, and soothing lotions. Early treatment accelerates recovery and reduces the risk of complications.

This article was written by Pharmacist Nil Eker from the Primum Pharma team.