I Frequently Have A Patient With Shingles

What is shingles?

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash, most often appearing as a single strip of blisters that wraps around one side of the torso.  It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus--the same virus that causes chickenpox.  After you've had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain and years later can be reactivated.  It is not life-threatening, but can be very painful.  

Symptoms for shingles

Symptoms include pain, burning, numbness or tingling, with a red rash that begins a few days after the pain. Fluid-filled blisters break open and crust over and they can itch.  Sometimes these symptoms are accompanied by fever and chills, general achiness, headache and fatigue.  

Treatment for shingles

The condition is most common in people older than 50--some experts estimate that half the people who live to the age of 85 will experience shingles.  A weakened immune system increases the risk, and cancer treatments (radiation and chemotherapy) may trigger the condition.  

There's no cure for shingles, but prompt treatment with prescription antiviral drugs can speed healing and reduce the risk of complications.  If pain is severe, different medications may also be prescribed.  The chickenpox vaccine is recommended for adults who have not had chickenpox.  There is an approved vaccine for adults over the age of 50, the shingles vaccine, used as a preventive strategy, that has the potential to reduce the course and severity of the disease.  

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309