Shingles disease is basically a reactivation in adult hood of the child hood infection of chicken pox. However this condition unlike chicken pox does not cover large portion of the person’s body. The shingles rash normally tends to affect small portion of the skin on one part or side of the body and this rash tends to appear in rows similar to shingles on the roof.

The rash in shingles disease tends to follow the path of some nerves on one part or side of the human body. This rash is typically observed on areas like the trunk, neck, buttocks, scalp or the face and it tends to stop at the midline quite abruptly. This infection is normally observed among the elderly population and is not that common among younger individuals. In as many as two third of the shingles cases the affected patients are more than 50 years of age.

In most of the cases individuals tend to suffer from one attack only though in some cases repeated eruption of rash may occur. In such a situation the rash erupts at the same site. If a person is affected by the shingles disease in the facial region then it can affect the eye and the nose areas. When the cornea of a person is affected this is referred to as zoster keratitis. If this condition is not treated promptly then it can result in scarring of the cornea leading to eventual blindness.

The shingles disease starts off with fever along with headache, upset stomach and chills. This may be accompanied with a burning sensation or itching at the site where the rash erupts. Pain at this site is also felt before the rash or even after disappearance of the rash. In cases where the pain is experience without rash it is called zoster sine herpete.

The rash in this condition is often confined to one area or side of the person’s body and in the initial stages this appears as a number of raised spots that are red and are surrounded by swollen areas. With time the spots turn to blisters and are filled with a clear fluid that then tends to turn cloudy. With time the blisters become dry and then crust over. The spots may bleed and also become painful and itchy.

Any individual who has suffered from chicken pox can potentially develop the shingles disease in life as the virus causing chicken pox and shingles is the same. The virus tends to remain dormant or latent in some nerve cells within the body and can awaken at some point of time. When the immune system of the body becomes week the virus is able to multiply and then travel along the fibers of the nerves to reach the skin surface. Individuals who are immunosuppressed are also at a greater risk of developing shingles disease. Such individuals include those suffering from leukemia, cancer or those who are undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.

The treatment of shingles disease aims at using medicines that can provide relief from the discomfort. Compresses or wet dressing using aluminium acetate can be used and topical agents such as calamine lotions, silver sulfadiazine and trolamine salicylate can also be used. Antiviral medication including famciclovir, valacyclovir and acyclovir can also be prescribed so as to reduce the pain and the inflammation.

Postherpetic neuralgia can be treated with topical formulations that contain nonsteroidal anti inflammatory medicines. Such medicines including indomethacin, aspirin or lidocaine can be used. Certain creams like Zostrix can be applied on the painful areas of the skin. A shingles vaccine has now been discovered and this vaccine can be given to adults over the age of 60 years. To prevent shingles it is important that chicken pox is prevented. The chicken pox vaccine can be used to immunize individuals and this can ensure that these people are less likely to suffer from shingles later on. Covering of rash can reduce the possibility of spreading of the shingles disease. Washing of hands often and avoiding touching or scratching of rash can also prevent the infection from spreading.