Shingles is an infectious disease caused by a virus that affects not only the skin, but also the nervous system. In an inactive state, it is found in neurons located in the horns of the spinal cord, ganglia of the nervous system and cranial nerves. This virus causes chickenpox in childhood. It is necessary to begin treatment of herpes zoster in humans at the first manifestations of the disease.
What causes the virus and what the consequences may be
While in the body, the pathogen may not signal its existence for decades. Infection can be provoked by chemotherapy, trauma, infection, hypothermia, or stress. In this case, the disease can cause undesirable consequences.
- In severe cases of the disease, immobilization of damaged parts of the body may occur due to damage to the motor nerves.
- Violations of some internal organs often occur. These can be various diseases of the duodenum and genitourinary system, pneumonia.
- If the virus affects the eyes, a complication such as optic neuritis may occur. As a result, visual acuity may deteriorate sharply.
- If a bactericidal infection is added to the disease, then purulent processes begin, which aggravate the patient’s condition. Recovery may take more than one month.
Treatment of the consequences of herpes zoster should be carried out in accordance with the symptoms. In this case, only a specialized specialist can prescribe therapy. It is worth considering that in severe forms of the disease the prognosis is favorable. Serious and recurrent consequences of herpes zoster are extremely rare. People with weakened immune systems may experience exacerbations after an inflammatory process.
Characteristics of the disease
Once the virus enters the human body, it remains there forever. After the disease subsides, it settles in the nerve fibers of the brain or spinal cord. For a long time, herpes does not manifest itself in any way, but when favorable conditions occur (hypothermia, decreased immunity) it becomes active.
If an adult did not have chickenpox as a child, contact with the virus will immediately result in shingles.
How to deal with skin rashes
Treatment of herpes zoster with traditional methods can speed up the healing process. However, first you need to know how to deal with skin rashes. You shouldn't take baths. It's better to wash in the shower. It is prohibited to use various salts and essential oils. While bathing, it is better not to touch the affected areas at all.
It is better to apply a cold heating pad with ice to the must where the shingles is located. For severe itching, you can make lotions with menthol or calamine.
The affected areas should not come into contact with clothing. It's better to leave them open. Also, do not apply ointments intended for the treatment of radiculitis. The use of cream in this case is ineffective. Often the disease requires hospitalization. If the doctor offers to undergo a course of therapy in a hospital, then you should not refuse. After all, treatment for complications of herpes zoster can take many months.
How long do manifestations last?
The incubation period can last several years. Even if a person is a carrier of herpes, shingles does not always develop. The main symptoms of the disease begin to subside within 6-8 days. In place of the blisters, yellow or brown crusts form, which eventually fall off and leave a pink or white area of the skin.
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The course of uncomplicated herpes zoster lasts 3-4 weeks. Severe forms are treated for several months.
Folk remedies to combat illness
Traditional treatment for herpes zoster is based mainly on taking various decoctions and infusions orally. Viruses often manifest themselves when the immune system is weakened. Therefore, most alternative medicine drugs are aimed at solving this problem.
To strengthen the immune system during illness, you can take willow infusion. To prepare this remedy, take a tablespoon (tablespoon) of bark and brew it with boiling water. One glass is enough. The drug must be infused for an hour. This treatment for shingles at home can be done regularly. You need to take the medicine three times a day, ¼ cup before meals.
During illness, experts recommend using echinacea tincture.
Symptomatic remedies
Shingles is accompanied by severe pain, itching, and fever. To alleviate the patient's condition, he is prescribed medications that reduce these symptoms.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
They have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects.
- Ibuprofen (Nurofen, Brufen);
- Nimesulide (Nimulid, Nise);
- Meloxicam (Movalis);
- Diclofenac (Voltaren).
Prescribed for 3-5 days, until pain decreases and body temperature normalizes.
Drugs from the NSAID group have a negative effect on the stomach and can cause exacerbation of gastritis, so they are taken only after meals.
Antihistamines
Enhances the effect of painkillers, relieves skin itching in the area of rashes
- Suprastin;
- Tavegil;
- Cetrin;
- Claritin.
Prescribed for 7-10 days.
Immunostimulants
The virus is activated when the immune system is suppressed, so drugs to stimulate the immune system are included in complex therapy after consultation with an immunologist.
- Likopid, tablets;
- Immunomax, powder for injection solution;
- Polyoxidonium, suppositories, tablets, injection form.
In the absence of pronounced immunodeficiency, they are limited to multivitamin preparations and herbal products (Immunal, drops).
Compresses against rashes
Treatment of herpes zoster with folk methods is based not only on the use of drugs orally, but also on the use of various compresses. To dry and reduce breakouts, you can use fried onions. The vegetable must be peeled and held over the fire, pricked with a fork. The onion should be slightly fried. You can also carefully cut the vegetable into pieces and place in a hot frying pan. The product should turn golden. Afterwards, the product needs to be cooled and then applied to the rash on the skin.
To reduce itching and pain, you can take a towel and soak it in cold water. Squeeze well and then cover the rash.
To make the treatment of shingles in older people much faster, you can use an infusion of immortelle herb. To prepare it, you need to take a tablespoon of raw material and brew it with a glass of hot water. The container with the product should be wrapped and allowed to stand for about an hour. After soaking a bandage or cotton wool in the immortelle infusion, you should lubricate the affected skin. This must be done daily and preferably several times throughout the day. It is better to carry out the procedure in the evening and in the morning.
Main clinical forms
It happens that the disease takes you by surprise: on a day off, away from home, when there is no opportunity to get specialist advice. In what cases can you start treatment at home, and when do you need to go to the hospital immediately?
Favorable
- Gangliocutaneous is the classic form that is most common. First, fever, chills, and chest pain occur, then encircling blistering rashes appear along the intercostal nerves.
- Low-symptomatic - there may only be pain resembling intercostal neuralgia, without rashes; or a rash in the form of single nodules rather than blisters.
In these cases, shingles in humans can be treated at home, under the supervision of a doctor.
Heavy
- Ear and eye - develops when the trigeminal nerve is damaged by the virus. A rash appears on the face, in the ear canal, on the mucous membrane of the eye, and in the mouth. Severe pain in the ear and paresis of facial muscles appear.
- Meningoencephalitic - skin rashes are accompanied by severe headache, vomiting, and confusion. In 60% of cases it leads to death.
- Necrotic - deep ulcers quickly form at the site of the rash.
- With damage to the autonomic nervous system, urinary retention, constipation or diarrhea appear.
- Widespread - the rash affects large areas of the skin and mucous membranes.
In these cases, hospitalization is necessary. Sometimes different clinical forms can be combined with each other. If, against the background of classic manifestations, your health worsens and any other symptoms arise, you will also have to go to the hospital.
Apple cider vinegar against illness
Treatment for shingles at home can be done using apple cider vinegar. However, certain rules must be followed. Otherwise, the therapy will not give positive results.
Treating shingles with apple cider vinegar is a fairly simple and effective method. To treat affected areas, the product does not need to be diluted. It is enough to lubricate the rashes three times a day. After the procedure, all unpleasant sensations, including itching, subside. After a few days of such therapy, the disease may completely disappear. Before using apple cider vinegar, you should make sure that the patient has no contraindications, for example, intolerance to the product.
Infusion of calendula and meadowsweet
A compress made from meadowsweet and calendula is considered an excellent remedy. To prepare the drug, you need to take a few teaspoons of meadowsweet flowers, pre-crushed, as well as 100 grams of calendula flowers. All components must be filled with ½ liters of alcohol. The drug should be infused for 30 days. In the finished tincture, you need to moisten a piece of gauze, folded several times, and apply it to the sore spot for 10 minutes.
The tincture can also be used for oral administration. To do this, take half a glass of water, preferably boiled, and dilute a teaspoon of the prepared preparation in it. You need to take the product three times a day. Such treatment of shingles at home can not only remove the rash, but also reduce the pain.
Causes of the disease
Why shingles occurs is still unclear, but doctors identify a number of predisposing factors:
- Age. The risk of developing herpes zoster increases after 50 years of age. Some experts estimate that half of people over 80 have the disease.
- Stress . Constant worry can affect your overall health and reduce your immune system.
- Certain diseases. These include diseases that reduce the body's defenses - HIV, AIDS, malignant tumors.
- Taking medications.
- Cancer treatment.
Is shingles contagious?
While the herpes virus is not active, infection is impossible. A person with shingles can pass the disease to another after blisters appear and break.
The virus is transmitted by contact and airborne droplets.
There is a possibility of transmission of the disease from mother to child during childbirth.
How to prevent shingles
Treating shingles at home does not always have a positive effect. Therefore, doctors recommend paying close attention to your health and regularly taking medications that can increase the body’s resistance to various infections and viruses.
Beekeeping products help get rid of many problems. To strengthen the immune system and prevent viral infection, you can use propolis tincture. It is enough to take 11-15 drops of the drug daily, previously diluted in water or juice. This remedy is effective during illness and for prevention.
Milk thistle tincture also helps prevent the disease. To prepare it, you need to take 50 grams of powder obtained from this plant and pour it with vodka. This amount of raw material requires only half a liter. The drug should be infused in a dark place for two weeks. The finished tincture should be taken four times a day, 20 drops, after diluting it in a small amount of water, preferably before meals.
Another remedy that helps prevent disease and strengthen the immune system is a tincture made from ginger roots. To prepare this product, you need to pour 150 grams of prepared raw materials with 800 milliliters of vodka. The container with the drug must be tightly closed and placed in a dark place. The product is infused for about 2 weeks. In this case, the container must be shaken periodically. You need to take the finished product several times a day before meals, diluting 10 to 15 drops in water. It is worth remembering that a tincture made from ginger is contraindicated for those who suffer from allergies and have problems with the intestines, stomach and liver.
Antiviral agents
Medicines in this group have a detrimental effect on the virus and prevent its reproduction. This reduces the duration of the disease and improves the patient’s well-being.
Local agents
ointments, creams, sprays, gels are prescribed to patients with acute manifestations of the disease. Apply to areas of rash with a cotton swab or finger 4-5 times a day.
- Acyclovir (Zovirax, Virolex) ointment, cream;
- Penciclovir (Fenistil Pencivir, Vectavir) cream;
- Panavir, gel, cream;
- Epigen, spray.
Systemic agents
Tablets, injectable forms, suppositories are prescribed to patients with immunodeficiency, diabetes mellitus, who are prone to a protracted course of the disease and the development of complications. The regimen and duration of treatment are determined by the attending physician. The average duration of treatment is 2 weeks.
- Acyclovir tablets, injection form;
- Valacyclovir (Valtrex) tablets;
- Famciclovir (Famvir) tablets;
- Panavir, injection solution, suppositories.
