How Can I Prevent The Spread Of The Shingles Virus
The virus can be passed to a person who has never had chickenpox. This usually happens if the other person comes in contact with your open sores. This person may get chickenpox, but not shingles. You are contagious until your blisters scab over. Stay away from people who have not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. Avoid pregnant women, newborns, and people with weak immune systems. They have a higher risk of infection.
- Wash your hands often. Wash your hands several times each day. Wash after you use the bathroom, change a child’s diaper, and before you prepare or eat food. Use soap and water every time. Rub your soapy hands together, lacing your fingers. Wash the front and back of your hands, and in between your fingers. Use the fingers of one hand to scrub under the fingernails of the other hand. Wash for at least 20 seconds. Rinse with warm, running water for several seconds. Then dry your hands with a clean towel or paper towel. Use hand sanitizer that contains alcohol if soap and water are not available. Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth without washing your hands first.
- Cover a sneeze or cough. Use a tissue that covers your mouth and nose. Throw the tissue away in a trash can right away. Use the bend of your arm if a tissue is not available. Wash your hands well with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer.
You Cannot Get Shingles From Someone With Chickenpox
You cannot get shingles from someone with shingles or chickenpox.
But you can get chickenpox from someone with shingles if you have not had chickenpox before.
When people get chickenpox, the virus remains in the body. It can be reactivated later and cause shingles if someone’s immune system is lowered.
This can be because of stress, certain conditions, or treatments like chemotherapy.
What Are The Symptoms Of Chickenpox Vs Hand Foot And Mouth Disease
Chickenpox Symptoms
Rash
Healthy children generally experience one to two days of fever, sore throat, and malaise approximately 2 weeks following exposure to VZV. Within 24 hours of these symptoms, a characteristic rash develops initially on the torso and then spreads over the next 7 to 10 days outward to the head, arms, and legs. Skin lesions progress through a predictable evolution from a red papule to blister to a pustule , which then scabs over. The vesicle and pustular fluids are highly concentrated with infectious virus particles.
New lesions characteristically come in recurring âwavesâ over the skin surface. The patient may thus have newly formed papules, middle-aged vesicles and pustules, and crusted lesions all at the same time. At the peak of the disease, a patient may have over 300 skin lesions at one time. Once all lesions are scabbed over and no new lesions are developing, the person is no longer contagious. The lesions rarely cause permanent scarring, unless secondary infection develops . Lesions may commonly be found in the mouth and may also involve the genitalia.
Complications
In healthy children, chickenpox is a mild disease. Adults are 25% more likely to have significant complications from the diseases. Common complications affecting both children and adults include the following:
Chickenpox and Pregnancy
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Symptoms
- general malaise
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What Can Be Mistaken For Shingles
Shingles can sometimes be mistaken for another skin conditions, such as hives, psoriasis, or eczema. Share on Pinterest A doctor should always be consulted if shingles is suspected. The characteristics of a rash may help doctors identify the cause. For example, hives are often raised and look like welts.
How Is It Treated
It is best to start treatment as soon as possible after you notice the rash. See your healthcare provider to discuss treatment with antiviral medicine, such as acyclovir. This medicine is most effective if you start taking it within the first 3 days of the rash. Antiviral medicine may speed your recovery and lessen the chance that the pain will last for a long time.
Your provider may also recommend or prescribe:
- medicine for pain
- antibacterial salves or lotions to help prevent bacterial infection of the blisters
- corticosteroids
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How Long Do Mild Shingles Last
Most cases of shingles last three to five weeks. Shingles follows a pattern: The first sign is often burning or tingling pain sometimes, it includes numbness or itching on one side of the body. Somewhere between one and five days after the tingling or burning feeling on the skin, a red rash will appear.
How Long Will The Effects Last
The rash from shingles will heal in 1 to 3 weeks and the pain or irritation will usually go away in 3 to 5 weeks. When shingles occurs on the head or scalp, the symptoms usually go away eventually, but it may take many months.
If the virus damages a nerve, you may have pain, numbness, or tingling for months or even years after the rash is healed. This is called postherpetic neuralgia. This chronic condition is most likely to occur after a shingles outbreak in people over 50 years old. Taking antiviral medicine as soon as the shingles is diagnosed may help prevent this problem.
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If Ive Been Vaccinated For Chickenpox Can I Still Develop Shingles Later In Life
Unfortunately, yes, despite being vaccinated for chickenpox, you can still get shingles. No vaccine is 100% protective and the effects of vaccines lessen with time. However, people who get the chickenpox vaccine are significantly less likely to develop shingles later in life compared with people who never received the chickenpox vaccine. One recent 12-year study found that the number of shingles cases was 72% lower in children who had received the chickenpox vaccine compared with those who did not.
What Causes Chickenpox Vs Hand Foot And Mouth Disease
Chickenpox Causes
The varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox. The disease is highly contagious over 90% of nonimmune individuals will develop chickenpox following exposure.
VZV spreads by both direct skin-to-skin contact and via respiratory droplets from the infected individual. While the average incubation period from viral exposure to onset of symptoms is 12-14 days, symptoms may appear as early as 10 days or as late as 21 days after exposure to the virus.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Causes
- Hand, foot, and mouth disease is generally caused by coxsackievirus A-16, which is a member of the enterovirus family.
- There are other types of enteroviruses that can cause the symptoms as well, but these are less common.
Children usually become infected with the virus from other children in an fecal-oral pattern that is, infection is acquired from exposure to infected fecal material or oral secretions .
The incubation period is usually 5 days.
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Who Gets Herpes Zoster
Anyone who has had varicella may subsequently develop herpes zoster. Zoster can occur in childhood but is much more common in adults, especially older people. People with various kinds of cancer have a 40% increased risk of developing zoster. People who have had zoster rarely get it again the chance of getting a second episode is about 1%.
Herpes zoster often affects people with weak immunity.
Hives Can Cause Itchy Red Bumps
Hives are red or skin-colored bumps that can cause mild to severe itching, according to the ACAAI. They typically appear suddenly and disappear quickly. Pressing the middle of a red bump will make it turn white, which is known as blanching. Hives can be caused by a number of triggers, including allergies, cold or hot weather, and infections.
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The Shingles Rash Usually Occurs On One Side Of The Body Or Face Most Commonly On The Trunk
Its easy to mistake a shingles rash for another health condition that affects the skin. The shingles virus typically causes a painful rash and blisters, which can resemble many other skin conditions psoriasis, eczema, and hives among them. However, there are a few signs that your rash is more likely to be shingles than something else.
To get shingles, you must have had chickenpox. Shingles, or herpes zoster, occurs when the chickenpox virus reactivates after lying dormant in the body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 out of 3 people in the United States will get shingles in their lifetime. While your risk of getting shingles increases as you age, anyone can get it if they had chickenpox, notes the CDC.
About half of all shingles cases occur in adults age 60 or older, and the risk of getting shingles becomes much greater by age 70, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Signs And Symptoms Of Shingles
Shingles may cause mild to severe pain, and the viral rash most commonly appears on the trunk, notes the CDC. Unlike chickenpox, the shingles rash usually occurs on one side of the body or face.
The first symptom of shingles is usually pain, itching, or tingling in the area where the shingles rash will later appear. This may happen several days before the rash erupts, leading to fluid-filled blisters like those of chicken pox. The blisters typically scab over in 7 to 10 days and clear up within two to four weeks, according to the CDC.
Other signs and symptoms of shingles may include:
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How Does It Occur
If you have had chickenpox, you are at risk for later developing shingles. After you recover from chickenpox, the chickenpox virus stays in your body. It moves to the roots of your nerve cells and becomes inactive . Later, if the virus becomes active again, shingles is the name given to the symptoms it causes.
What exactly causes the virus to become active is not known. A weakened immune system seems to allow reactivation of the virus. This may occur with normal aging, immune-suppressing medicines, or another illness, or after major surgery. It can also happen as a complication of cancer or AIDS or treatment of these illnesses. Chronic use of steroid drugs may trigger shingles. The virus may also become active again after the skin is injured or sunburned. Emotional stress seems to be a common trigger as well.
Shingles Rash On Fingers: Pain Symptoms Treatment And Pictures
The human hands are a marvel of animal evolution. That thumb has given our species powers beyond any other on the planet. To honor hands, lets celebrate with some unusual facts about these appendages. Dig into these 10 amazing facts about hands:
- The hand has 123 ligaments, 29 joints, and 27 bones.
- Outside of primates opossums, pandas, and koalas all have opposable thumbs.
- Fingers do not have muscles. The phalanges are controlled by ligaments attached to muscles in the forearm.
- Males tend to have a longer ring finger than an index finger. Females are the opposite.
- Hand surgeons say the index finger is the easiest to lose because it is the least important to functionality .
- We chose the ring finger for engagement rings because of its Vena amoris, a vein that runs directly to the heart.
- It takes approximately 6 months for a fingernail to grow from root to tip.
- Fingernails are composed of the same organic material as hair.
- The wrinkles on knuckles are formed because thats where the skin is directly attached to the tendon.
With such a fondness for our hands, because they give us so much joy and opportunity, it is a major bummer when problems arise.
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Home Care For Shingles
Colloidal oatmeal baths are an old standby for relieving the itch of chickenpox and can help with shingles, as well. To speed up the drying out of the blisters, try placing a cool, damp washcloth on the rash If your doctor gives you the green light, stay active while recovering from shingles. Gentle exercise or a favorite activity may help keep your mind off the discomfort.
When To Drain Water Blister
There are some occasions when it is appropriate to drain or pop a water blister. For instance, if the area is painful, causes extreme discomfort, or has begun to leak fluid, it may need to be drained.In those rare instances, it is important to proceed with caution. Remove any clothing covering the water bumps.
If you are unsure whether or not you should pop a blister, consult with a medical professional. They can determine the best course of action.
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How Is Herpetic Whitlow Treated
Herpetic whitlow doesnt require treatment.
The condition usually heals within a few weeks without medication, but a prescription antiviral drug can shorten the duration of an outbreak.
Antivirals are only effective when taken within 24 hours of developing symptoms.
Antivirals also help lower the risk of transmitting the virus to other people. If a blister ruptures and an infection develops, your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic.
You can treat herpetic whitlow at home by:
- taking a pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help reduce pain and fever
- applying a cold compress several times a day to help reduce swelling
- cleaning the affected area daily and covering it with gauze
Psoriasis Forms Red Patches On The Skin
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that is easy to confuse with the shingles rash. As with the shingles virus, psoriasis forms red patches on the skin, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. One type of psoriasis pustular can lead to the development of blisters. Areas of skin affected by psoriasis often develop into silvery scales on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. Treatment can help control the condition.
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Contact Dermatitis Can Cause A Rash And Blisters
Contact dermatitis can also cause a rash, blisters, itching, and burning, per the ACAAI. It occurs when the skin comes into contact with an irritant or an allergen, such as soaps, laundry detergents, shampoos, metals, medications, and more. Allergens like poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac can cause red, itchy rashes that may include blisters. Treatment can offer relief and aid healing.
Shingles Pain On Hand And Thumb
Goodwater_Betty
I’ve had shingles for about seven weeks. It was on my left arm, hand, and thumb. The fingers were unaffected. Most of it is gone but the worst places, on my hand and thumb, seem raw and very sore and tender now. Is there any cream that I can use to help them heal and relieve the pain? It’s pretty intense and is so annoying.
1 like, 4 replies
- Hi Betty,
I am sorry for your suffering.
Also, my internet connection was down for several days, so I apologise for the delay in responding.
As far as treating the pain of Herpes Zoster-Shingles, you realize that you have Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN. Here are your options.
Ansesthetic TopicslLidocaine patches 12 hours on,
12 hours off
Anti-neuralgia medication Lyrica or Neurontin pills
Antidepressant Cymbalta or Venlafaxine pills
Often, depending on the severity of the pain, you might require a combination of two or three types of pain medications.
The above medications need to be prescribed by a neurologist or someone with expertise in pain management. Lyrica, Neurontin, Cymbalta, and Venlafaxine all are tapered up, then down.
Cold/ice compresses
Many Physicians lack the expertise regarding chronic pain management.
Rest your hand and arm. The more you use it, the more pain you will have. Are you right or left hand dominant?
Do you still struggle with the fatigue and exhaustion?
Best wishes
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When To Seek Medical Advice
Shingles is not usually serious, but you should see your GP as soon as possible if you recognise the symptoms. Early treatment may help reduce the severity of your symptoms and the risk of developing complications.
You should also see your GP if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system and you think you have been exposed to someone with chickenpox or shingles and havent had chickenpox before.
When Should I See My Doctor
See your doctor as soon as possible if you are experiencing any symptoms of shingles. Starting treatment with antiviral medicines within 3 days of the rash appearing should reduce the severity of symptoms and the risk of further complications, including post-herpetic neuralgia.
See your doctor straight away if you have symptoms of shingles and are experiencing the following:
- symptoms that affect your eye area
- a temperature of 38°C or higher
You should also see your doctor if you are pregnant, or have a weakened immune system due to medicine that suppresses the immune system, or a condition that weakens your immune system.
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