Shingles is a condition by the virus varicella-zoster which lies inactive in the nerve roots following a case of chicken pox.

Who Is At Risk To Get Shingles?

It has been known to flare up in approximately 20% of former chicken pox sufferers do to the following conditions:

• Individual has a weakened immune system, such as those with cancer or HIV.
• Individual is over the age of 50.
• Individual has been ill.
• Individual is experiencing trauma.
• Individual is under significant physical or emotional stress.

What Are the Symptoms of Shingles?

Early symptoms of shingles include:

• Pain that is itching, stabbing or shooting.
• Tingling feeling in or under the skin, which is red in the affected area.
• Fever, chills, and headache.
• Upset stomach.

After a few days, a rash appears as a band or a patch, usually on one side of the body.The rash can appear around the waistline or on one side of the face or the trunk along the peripheral nerve, and eventually develops into red, fluid-filled, round, painful blisters.

These blisters generally begin to dry out within a few days or weeks, and the pain generally lessons as time goes on.

Complications Of Shingles:

*In some cases the blisters can spread over large areas of the body affecting the heart, lungs and other organs.

*It can threaten eye sight, cause hearing loss and damage taste buds.

*Excessive pain known as postherpetic neuralgia may develop and last for months or years after the disease heals.

*In extreme cases it can result in blockage of blood vessels which could lead to stroke.

*The virus is highly contagious, however it generally will not become shingles in the person with whom it is transferred to, but could result in a case of chicken pox.

Is There A Shingles Treatment?

There is no cure for shingles, and it can reoccur under stressful conditions.

*Treatments for the condition can help ease the associated pain and discomfort as well as remedies to help the healing of blisters and rash.

*Antiviral medications such as Zovirex, Valtrex, and Famvir can ease discomfort and reduce the duration of symptoms. it is recommended that antiviral medication be started within 72 hours of the first sign of shingles.

*Pain medications offer relief. Tylenol or over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) can be effective in relieving mild pain.

For more severe cases of pain, prescription NSAIDs or narcotic pain relievers may be necessary.

In some cases, corticosteroids can be prescribed to ease the discomfort, inflammation, pain, redness, and itching associated with shingles' rash and blisters.

As with other viral infections, there are nutritional supplements that have been found to be helpful:

*Vitamin C is always helpful as it supports the immune system.

*Lysine inhibits viral replication.

*Adenosine monophosphate is effective in preventing outbreaks.

*Vitamin B12 and Vitamin E both aid in relief of the pain from postherpetic neuralgia, as does capsaicin found in cayenne pepper when used topically.