ShinglesBy Samantha Lucas

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Background Information

• Shingles is a skin rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox.

• The virus is called the Varicella zoster virus.– Aka Herpes zoster

• It occurs most commonly in people over the age of 60.

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Causes

• After an individual has chickenpox, this virus lives in the nervous system

• It is never fully cleared from the body.

• Outbreaks occur with:– emotional stress– immune deficiency– cancer

• Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk

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Medicinenet

Symptoms• Before a rash is visible, you may notice several days of burning pain and sensitive skin.

• Shingles start as small blisters– with new blisters

continuing to form for three to five days.

• The blisters follow the path of individual nerves that comes out of the spinal cord CDC

Symptoms Continued

• Eventually, the blisters pop, and the area starts to ooze.

• The affected areas will then crust over and heal.

• It may take three to four weeks from start to finish.

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Treatment• The severity of an attack of

shingles can be reduced by immediate treatment with antiviral drugs– Such as acyclovir or valcyclovir– Antiviral drugs may help the

painful effects of shingles– Other treatments include

steroids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and topical agents. valcyclovir

Acyclovir

Prevention• A vaccine exists known as Zostavax. • Adults also receive an immune boost from contact with

children infected with varicella– a boosting method that prevents about a quarter of

herpes zoster cases

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Cure

• There is no cure for shingles

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Related LinksThe following sites were used to create this presentation:

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_zoster• NINDS:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/shingles/shingles.htm• NLM: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/shingles.html• Medicine Net:

http://www.medicinenet.com/shingles/article.htm

Related Image LinksImages were taken from the following sites:

• http://nihseniorhealth.gov/shingles/causesandriskfactors/01.html

• http://www.fda.gov/• http://www.cheapest-acyclovir.com/pix/img_Acyclovir.jpg• http://www.medical-bahri.com/modules/My_eGallery/

gallery/Massoud/valcyclovir_s.jpg• http://poisonevercure.150m.com/New_Folder/

shingles.jpg

More Related Image Links

Images were taken from the following sites:

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000858.htm

• http://www.medicinenet.com/shingles-picture-slideshow/article.htm

• http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/photos.htm

• http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/HEALTH/050601/Chart_Shingles.gif